Four Dead as Massive Fire Engulfs Hong Kong High-Rises in Tai Po

A massive blaze tore through Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on Friday afternoon, killing at least four people and leaving others trapped as flames ripped through eight 31-storey residential towers. Emergency services said the fire began around 2:51 pm and was upgraded to a No 4 alarm, the second-highest level, by 3:34 pm, as firefighters battled the blaze and thick, acrid smoke blanketed the area.

Wang Fuk Court is a housing complex consisting of eight blocks that provide about 2,000 residential units. The scale of the fire prompted widespread disruption as a section of Tai Po Road, one of the city’s main arteries, was closed and bus routes were diverted to keep traffic moving away from the incident.

Videos from the scene showed fire crews fighting the blaze from elevated platforms, blasting water from above as flames roared through the towers and smoke swirled into the sky. The exterior of the buildings showed bamboo scaffolding—a common sight in Hong Kong construction—while residents gathered on an overhead walkway, watching the dramatic operation unfold.

Hong Kong’s fire services said there were casualties, with several people reportedly trapped inside the burning towers. Two people were in a critical condition with severe burns, and other residents were injured as emergency workers conducted search-and-rescue efforts across the affected blocks. The full number of people inside at the time remained unverified, as crews continued to work through the scene.

Tai Po, a suburban district in the New Territories near the Shenzhen border, is a densely populated area that blends old-town streets with large housing estates. The cause of the fire was not immediately announced, and investigators were expected to later examine the scene to determine how the blaze started and spread so rapidly through the high-rise towers.

Cover image source: Huge Fire Engulfs Apartment Buildings in Hong Kong 🔗

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