Hong Kong, November 26, 2025 – A major fire broke out at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in the Tai Po district, killing at least four people and injuring eight, with an unknown number of people trapped inside the three affected buildings.
The fire started outside the building on the scaffolding used for the complex's renovation and escalated from level 1 to level 4 on a scale of 1 to 5 within minutes. Local authorities quickly raised the alarm, reflecting the violence and speed with which the flames advanced along the bamboo scaffolding surrounding several under-construction facades.
Authorities confirmed that the Tai Po Baptist Public School, located nearby, advised parents to avoid the area due to the risk of smoke exposure and potential collapses.
The episode revives strong concerns about the safety of bamboo scaffolding, which is widely used in Hong Kong. The combination of high-rise work, rapidly combustible scaffolding, and adverse weather conditions continues to be a challenge for a city accustomed to permanent renovations and large-scale buildings.
While firefighters continue extinguishing and rescue operations, local authorities anticipate that the investigation will focus on determining the exact origin of the fire, the condition of the scaffolding, and any potential failures in safety protocols during the construction.
Witnesses described large sections of the scaffolding detaching and falling as the fire spread uncontrollably. Fire crews deployed at the scene worked tirelessly through dense smoke and extreme temperatures.
Authorities indicated that search and rescue efforts are ongoing while attempting to access floors where people may still be trapped. Several streets were closed for safety due to the risk of partial collapse, as neighbors watched the fire's progress, covering their faces to avoid inhaling the thick smoke.
The number of victims could change in the coming hours as teams gain access to areas still unreachable due to the partial collapse of external structures.
The project had caused discontent among residents last year, although there are no indications of a direct link to the fire's origin.
The bamboo structure, common in Hong Kong for its low cost and ease of assembly, acted as an accelerator, facilitating the vertical spread of flames and generating a smoke column visible from several kilometers away.
In October, a similar fire at the Chinachem Tower forced the evacuation of dozens of people and left several injured, without compromising the building's main structure.
The Hong Kong Observatory had maintained a red fire-danger warning since Monday due to the dry environment, wind, and weather conditions that favor the rapid ignition of flammable materials, a factor that may have contributed to the severity of the disaster.
Wang Fuk Court, with nearly 2,000 housing units and about 4,000 residents, was undergoing a renovation estimated at 330 million Hong Kong dollars.
One of the injured firefighters was taken to the Prince of Wales Hospital, but it was later confirmed that he had died, becoming one of the four fatalities along with three residents of the complex.
Experts consulted at the time pointed to possible causes such as welding sparks or discarded cigarette butts near flammable materials.
These precedents, along with the Tai Po incident, reignite the debate about the vulnerability of temporary structures and the need for stricter controls in high-density urban contexts.
