Hong Kong emergency crews continued combing through charred residential blocks on Thursday as more than 250 people remained unaccounted for following the city’s deadliest fire in decades.
At least 55 people have been confirmed dead in the inferno, which tore through a large apartment complex in the Tai Po district.
The blaze erupted on Wednesday at Wang Fuk Court, an eight-block public housing estate with roughly 2,000 units.
Over 24 hours later, flames were still flickering from several apartments as firefighters directed water jets at the scorched buildings.
Authorities have begun probing the cause of the disaster, focusing on the bamboo scaffolding and plastic netting covering much of the estate due to ongoing renovation work.
Hong Kong’s anti-corruption agency also announced an investigation into the construction activities, shortly after police arrested three men accused of leaving foam materials at the site prior to the fire.
Officials confirmed that the blaze had been fully extinguished in four buildings, brought under control in three others, while one block remained untouched.
Residents told AFP that no fire alarms sounded, forcing neighbours to bang on doors and ring doorbells to warn others to run.
One resident, surnamed Suen, said the flames spread so rapidly that emergency equipment appeared insufficient.
“One hose for so many buildings, it was obviously too slow,” he said.
The unfolding tragedy has prompted spontaneous support from Hong Kong residents, who gathered near the estate to distribute supplies to displaced families and exhausted firefighters.
“It’s heartbreaking but also inspiring,” said 38-year-old volunteer Stone Ngai.
“Hong Kong people always show up for each other in moments like this.”
Fire authorities said 51 victims died at the scene, while four others succumbed to injuries in hospital.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee ordered immediate inspections of all housing estates undergoing major renovation works across the city.
A 37-year-old firefighter was among those killed.
He was discovered with severe burns roughly 30 minutes after losing contact with his team, according to Fire Services Director Andy Yeung.
A government spokesperson said 61 people were hospitalised:15 in critical condition, 27 in serious condition,19 stable
Earlier, authorities said 279 people were unaccounted for, though firefighters later confirmed contact with some of them. Over 900 evacuees spent the night in temporary shelters.
Two Indonesian domestic workers were also confirmed among the dead, the Indonesian consulate said Thursday.
Parts of the scaffolding collapsed Wednesday night as the fire roared through upper floors.
Fire Services Deputy Director Derek Armstrong Chan said extreme heat and falling debris made some apartments unreachable.
“The wind pushed burning material from one building to another, which likely contributed to how fast the fire moved,” he said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed condolences, including for the firefighter killed while responding.
Chief Executive Lee said he was “deeply saddened” and pledged full government support to affected residents.
Later on Thursday, some evacuees from nearby buildings were allowed to return home, while volunteers distributed clothing, food, and flyers with information on missing loved ones.
Though deadly fires were once common in Hong Kong’s densely packed districts, stricter safety regulations over the years have made such large-scale tragedies increasingly rare.
