Hong Kong fire: 44 killed, nearly 300 missing; police arrest three for suspected manslaughter

Thick smoke and flames rise as a major fire engulfs several apartment blocks at the Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Hong Kong's Tai Po district on November 26, 2025. (Photo AFP)

The death toll in the massive blaze that ripped through the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in Hong Kong has climbed to 44, with close to 300 people still unaccounted for. Authorities have arrested three senior members of a construction company on suspicion of manslaughter.

BBC reported that police found polystyrene boards blocking windows at the renovation site, a factor investigators believe helped the flames spread faster. Bamboo scaffolding and green construction mesh around the towers are also suspected to have accelerated the fire’s advance into neighbouring buildings.

Also Read: Hong Kong fire reason: Traditional construction method led to massive blaze that killed 44? 

Flames burn for more than 15 hours across multiple towers

Firefighters worked through the night to reach residents feared trapped on the upper floors of the vast Tai Po housing complex. The blaze began on Wednesday afternoon and raged for more than 15 hours across several 32-storey blocks, with smoke and flames still visible well into Thursday morning.

Authorities said four towers were partially under control, but three remained extremely dangerous, slowing rescue efforts.

Police also revealed that some windows in an unaffected block had been sealed with foam by the renovation firm now under investigation. Hong Kong Police Superintendent Eileen Chung told reporters that officers believe the company acted with “gross negligence,” allowing the fire to spread uncontrollably.

Two company directors and an engineering consultant have been detained.

Deadliest Hong Kong fire since World War II

Among the dead is a firefighter, while at least 45 people remain in critical condition. This tragedy is now Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since World War II, surpassing the 1996 Kowloon blaze that killed 41 people. The scale of destruction has drawn comparisons to London’s Grenfell Tower disaster of 2017.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said the immediate priority is to extinguish remaining fires and rescue those still trapped. China’s President Xi Jinping has called for an “all-out effort” to control the blaze and minimise casualties, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Citywide disruption and school closures

The massive firefighting operation has triggered widespread disruption across the city. Dozens of roads are closed, 39 bus routes have been diverted, and at least six schools were shut on Thursday due to blocked access and severe congestion.

The Hong Kong education bureau told the BBC that 13 schools will suspend classes today. Educational psychologists have been deployed to nearby temporary shelters to support affected students.