Hong Kong authorities continue search operations for hundreds of missing residents following a catastrophic fire that engulfed multiple high-rise buildings at Wang Fuk Court complex on Thursday. The inferno, now classified as the city’s most devastating fire incident in over seven decades, has claimed at least 75 lives while leaving countless families desperately seeking information about their loved ones.
The tragedy has prompted immediate law enforcement response with three construction company executives arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and gross negligence. Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee has pledged a comprehensive investigation into the disaster that struck the residential complex housing thousands of residents.
Preliminary investigations reveal the fire exhibited unusually rapid propagation characteristics, with security officials confirming that non-fireproof construction materials significantly contributed to the blaze’s intensity. Police evidence indicates mesh netting, plastic sheeting, and styrofoam installed during ongoing renovations created ideal conditions for fire spread throughout the building exteriors.
The fire service deployed unprecedented emergency resources including 767 firefighters, 128 fire engines, and 57 ambulances to combat the level five alarm blaze – the highest severity classification in Hong Kong’s emergency response system. The intensity of heat prevented initial rescue operations, with firefighters reporting structural challenges in reaching upper levels.
Among the confirmed fatalities is 37-year-old firefighter Ho Wai-ho, a nine-year veteran of the Sha Tin Fire Station, who collapsed during rescue operations and was pronounced dead shortly after hospitalization. Fire Service Director Andy Yeung expressed profound grief over the loss of the dedicated responder.
Emergency shelters have accommodated approximately 900 evacuated residents, with temporary facilities established at multiple locations including Tung Cheong Street Sports Centre. The government has activated emergency monitoring systems and established casualty hotlines while six Tai Po schools remain closed indefinitely.
Construction safety experts have highlighted critical factors that exacerbated the tragedy, noting that the buildings’ renovation status with bamboo scaffolding and non-fire-retardant netting created perfect fire propagation conditions. Additional hazards included typical construction site materials such as cardboard debris and paint thinners that accelerated the blaze.
The incident has reignited concerns about construction safety standards in Hong Kong, particularly regarding the use of bamboo scaffolding and non-compliant materials in high-density residential areas. The development bureau had previously initiated measures to phase out bamboo scaffolding following multiple safety incidents, though these regulations apparently failed to prevent this week’s tragedy.