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đŸ”„ Hong Kong Fire 2025

Wang Fuk Court fire, Tai Po — flames on bamboo scaffolding, November 26, 2025.

Photo: Tyrone Siu/Reuters.

A catastrophic fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, engulfed seven of eight residential towers on November 26, 2025—the city's deadliest fire since 1948. Authorities cite gross negligence in renovation works as a key driver of the blaze and its rapid spread.

Status snapshot (2025-12-19): 161 dead (one set of remains contained a married couple's DNA); all missing-person cases resolved; 79 injured; one firefighter confirmed dead; 10 foreign domestic workers dead and 5 injured. SPCA reports 364 animals found (294 survived, 70 died, 173 missing).

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Key Facts (as of 2025-12-19)

  • Impact and scale: Fire began ~2:52 p.m. on Nov 26, 2025 at Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po (~2,000 flats/~4,600 residents; ~40% aged 65+). Seven of eight towers burned; 200 fire trucks, 100 ambulances, and >800 firefighters/paramedics deployed. Building fatalities: Wang Tai 82, Wang Cheong 70, Wang Sun 3, Wang Do 2, Wang Shing 1; none in Wang Yan/Wang Kin/Wang Chi; one victim not yet tied to a block (UDN/Ming Pao/TVBS/DotDotNews). SPCA estimates >537 animals affected; 364 found (294 survived, 70 died, 173 missing) (RTHK).
  • Materials and systems: Highly flammable polystyrene and foam panels blocked windows and escape routes; alarms found non-functional across all towers (some residents say alarms were switched off during works). Officials say 7 of 20 scaffold-net samples failed fire-resistance tests; allegations of mesh swapping to evade inspections (AP). Elevator-lobby windows reportedly sealed with foam boards; residents complained in 2024 about flammable netting/foam (NYT). PolyU’s Xinyan Huang later clarified remarks on bamboo’s role and urged caution pending a full technical study.
  • Oversight and investigations: 15 manslaughter arrests tied to alleged gross negligence; ICAC probe made multiple arrests linked to the renovation project, including on Dec 17 the current OC chairperson Tsui Mun-kam (ćŸæ»żæŸ‘) and former chairperson Tang Kwok-kuen (é„§ćœ‹æŹŠ), who signed the HK$330m contract during his five consecutive terms as chair (2012–Sep 2024) (on.cc). Chief Executive John Lee announced a non-statutory judge-led committee, promising administrative directives in lieu of a statutory inquiry; on Dec 12 he said the panel chaired by Judge David Lok will report within nine months and will probe systemic construction risks, conflicts, collusion, and bid-rigging (Tweet Reuters/Japan Times). Mandatory Building Inspection Scheme tender reportedly jumped from ~HK$140m to HK$330m; residents alleged bid-rigging and triad-linked interference. URA says its 100/100 “project management” score for the main contractor under the Building Rehab Company Registration Scheme will be clarified and the scoring method revised (HKEJ).
  • Response and support: Insurance Authority task force coordinating outreach; ~8,700 policies tied to Wang Fuk Court (1,100 general, 7,600 life) identified (Yahoo). Donations tracker “Taipo Big Donations Watcher” lists HK$2.8276b pledges across 328 donors (GitHub); major corporate/philanthropic pledges include Li Ka Shing Foundation, Lee Shau Kee Foundation, Chow Tai Fook, Sun Hung Kai Properties, Sino Group, Wharf, Hang Lung, HSBC/Hang Seng, BOCHK, AIA, Tencent, Alibaba, and others (Ming Pao).
  • Human stories: Survivor Yip Ka-kui described bamboo “exploding” and mesh igniting as foam-sealed windows trapped his wife Bai Shui Lin, who died after warning neighbors (CBS News). The Collective HK profiled a Wang Tai House family: father, grandmother, Indonesian helper “Sandy,” and 15-month-old “Yan Yan” died after a 7-hour call with relatives who say alarms stayed silent and foam-board-sealed windows left them stranded while firefighters said they could not “attack” 14/F (The Collective HK). Reuters profiled “Mr. Wong,” the 71-year-old whose photo went viral while searching for his wife (Reuters/Tyrone Siu story). Filipino helper Maryan Pascual Esteban (40) died while protecting a child in her care; her son vowed to become a firefighter (Threads). HKSKH social worker Chan Mo-ning notes some families cannot visually ID remains and await DNA results (am730).

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