Tragic Fire in Hong Kong Claims 146 Lives: A Community Mourns

Thu Dec 04 2025 21:06:14 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The death toll from a horrific fire in Hong Kong has risen to 146, with thousands gathering to pay their respects. Concerns are raised over building safety and the investigation continues amidst public grief.

In a catastrophic fire that engulfed multiple tower blocks in Hong Kong's Tai Po district, at least 146 individuals have lost their lives and many others are reported missing. The community is in mourning as thousands gather to pay tribute to the victims. Accusations about the use of flammable materials on the buildings' exteriors have prompted outrage, while an investigation is underway to uncover the causes and potential negligence that led to the rapid spread of the fire. This incident marks the deadliest fire in Hong Kong in over 70 years, igniting discussions about building regulations and safety protocols.

At least 146 people are known to have died in a devastating fire that tore through multiple high-rise buildings in Hong Kong.

Police announced the death toll in a news conference on Sunday, cautioning that they cannot rule out the possibility of further fatalities. A further 79 are injured and 150 remain missing, they said.

Seven of eight tower blocks in a housing in the northerly Tai Po district rapidly went up in flames on Wednesday. Accusations the fire was helped by flammable materials on the outside of the buildings has sparked anger and concern.

Thousands are gathering at the Wang Fuk Court complex on Sunday to mourn the victims, with queues stretching to almost 2km.

The death toll has been rising since the fire began, as officials work to recover and identify bodies.

The exact cause of the blaze has yet to be determined. Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of corruption over the renovations that had been taking place on the towers, while three others were detained on manslaughter charges.

The fire - which spread quickly both upwards and between the blocks - was only fully doused by Friday morning, and took more than 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

Authorities say the investigation could take three to four weeks. Police official Tsang Shuk-yin said on Sunday that officers had so far completed searches of four of the tower blocks.

Indonesia's consulate in Hong Kong said at least seven of its nationals had died from the fire, while the Philippines' consulate said one of its citizens had.

Firefighter Ho Wai-ho, 37, has been identified as among those killed. He was found collapsed at the scene on Wednesday, about 30 minutes after contact with him was lost.

The fire department said the fire reached a peak temperature of 500C (932F). Twelve firefighters were injured battling the blaze.

The tower blocks were also covered in bamboo scaffolding, which is commonly used for construction and renovation work in Hong Kong. The fire has sparked a debate about whether it should still be used.

Several residents have said they did not hear a fire alarm when the fire broke out. Hong Kong's fire service found that fire alarms in all eight blocks were not working effectively.

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said that those arrested in the corruption probe included directors at an engineering company and scaffolding subcontractors.

Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended works on 30 private projects, and the incident has led to a three-day mourning period, with flags flown at half-mast as the city grieves.

Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and had provided 1,984 apartments for some 4,600 residents. Nearly 40% of its residents are estimated to be at least 65 years old.