Picture courtesy of AFP | via Thai Newsroom

 

At least 36 people have tragically died, and 279 remain missing following a catastrophic fire in Hong Kong. The blaze, the city's deadliest in three decades, tore through high-rise towers in the Tai Po district, engulfing them in flames and smoke late Wednesday. The fire spread swiftly, fuelled by flammable bamboo scaffolding that was being phased out for safety reasons.

 

The fire began in the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, home to 2,000 apartments, complicating rescue efforts due to intense heat and towering flames. A firefighter was among those who died, and 29 individuals were hospitalised, according to Hong Kong's leader, John Lee. The priority remains to extinguish the fire and rescue the trapped residents, he said, as nearby inhabitants watched on in shock.

 

Authorities have not yet identified the cause of the fire, which broke out around 2:45 p.m. local time. One resident recalled hearing a loud noise before the flames erupted. Response efforts have been significant, involving scores of fire engines and ambulances, amid scaffolding crashing to the ground.

 

In mainland China, President Xi Jinping called for an "all-out effort" to combat the blaze and minimise casualties. The disaster could exacerbate social discontent due to high property prices in Hong Kong, coinciding with upcoming legislative elections. The inferno has already shut down a crucial section of the Tai Po road, causing significant traffic disruptions and leading to school closures, reported Reuters.

 

The fire recalls a 1996 blaze in Kowloon that claimed 41 lives and led to major fire safety reforms in the city. Bamboo scaffolding, still widely used in Hong Kong construction, is being replaced by metal alternatives, a process expedited earlier this year. Wang Fuk Court, built under a government scheme, is undergoing renovations, adding to the urgency for safety reforms.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• A devastating fire in Hong Kong has killed. 36 and left 279 missing.
• The flames were exacerbated by flammable bamboo scaffolding on the buildings.
• President Xi Jinping has called for comprehenMake efforts to minimise casualties.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Reuters 2025-11-27

 

 

 

Horrific beyond belief…I’d never live in a high rise for this very reason.my condolences to those affected.

And where do I see bamboo scaffolding still used...

Terrible.

 

I'm surprised we don't see more of this in Bangkok. 

 

One of many reasons I bought a low floor in a 4 story condominium. 

Construction began in the late 1970s as part of Hong Kong's public housing push, with the blocks completed and first occupied in 1983.

The estate was slated for a mandatory fire-safety inspection under a 2025 government program targeting over 9,000 pre-1987 buildings, but renovations were underway at the time.

The exact ignition source remains under investigation, but authorities believe it started externally on the bamboo scaffolding wrapping the towers during ongoing facade renovations

 

You see many SE countries using the bamboo scaffolding, including Thailand!

11 hours ago, webfact said:

flames were exacerbated by flammable bamboo scaffolding on the buildings.

 External scaffolding - reminded me of the Grenfell Tower disaster in London when flammable external cladding on the outside of the tower block caught alight.

 

 

I'm waiting for them all to fall straight down into their own footprint.

17 minutes ago, johng said:

I'm waiting for them all to fall straight down into their own footprint.

 

At freefall speed. 

1 minute ago, JonnyF said:

 

At freefall speed. 

You conspiracy theorist.. 😋

taken in a HK building hallway:

 

 

 

The death toll so far is 124, and hundreds are missing 

CNN is quoting 128 dead so far and unproven as of yet the fire traveled via the plastic debris safety netting attached to the scaffolding…….no word as of yet as to the source.just horrific!!