Hong Kong fire tragedy deepens as death toll climbs to 128

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Hong Kong is in mourning after authorities confirmed that at least 128 people have died in the catastrophic fire that swept through the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po, with 16 bodies still trapped inside the devastated towers.

The blaze, which began on Wednesday afternoon and raged through seven high-rise blocks, has become the city’s deadliest fire in more than six decades, surpassing the 1962 Sham Shui Po tragedy that killed 44 people.

Fire officials said the flames were “largely extinguished” by Friday morning after nearly 48 hours of nonstop operations. Families have gathered at the scene and across hospital emergency wards, searching desperately for missing relatives.

The BBC reports that more than 50 people remain hospitalised, including 12 in critical condition, while nearly 300 residents are still unaccounted for, raising fears that the death toll could rise further.

Grief has turned to anguish for many families waiting for news. A woman surnamed Wong, who has spent two days visiting multiple hospitals, said she was still searching for her sister-in-law and her twin.

Some relatives have been forced to identify victims through photographs shown by police, many of the bodies badly burned and unrecognisable. Survivors described chaos as thick smoke quickly engulfed corridors and stairwells.

One resident, Mr Chung, recounted the final moments with his wife, who was trapped inside their flat with their cat.

Her last words to him over the phone were, “Hang in there.” Hours later, he was told she had died. “I dare not call her again,” he said through tears.

Investigators are examining whether renovation materials used around the buildings accelerated the spread of the flames.

The towers were surrounded by bamboo scaffolding and mesh sheeting for ongoing construction works. Fire safety experts have warned that flammable renovation materials, combined with high-density building clusters, created conditions ripe for disaster.

Residents have also alleged that fire alarms were turned off during the renovation period, leaving many without warning as the fire spread rapidly. Police have launched a corruption investigation linked to renovation contractors, and three individuals connected to the works have been arrested.

As the city grapples with the scale of the devastation, public anger is mounting. Many residents have labelled the incident a “man-made disaster,” pointing to poor oversight, lax safety standards and long-ignored warnings about renovation practices.

Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, has acknowledged the mounting concerns and vowed a full investigation into what went wrong, while experts predict the tragedy will force the government to revisit fire safety regulations and material approval processes.

The emotional toll extends to the emergency services. Among the dead is 37-year-old firefighter Ho Wai-ho, whose girlfriend posted a heartbreaking tribute online, calling him her “superhero” who had “completed his mission and returned to Krypton.”

More than 1,000 firefighters were deployed across two days to battle the flames and conduct rescues, many sustaining injuries in the process.

As search teams continue to comb through the blackened shell of Wang Fuk Court, with families waiting anxiously nearby, Hong Kong faces a moment of reckoning.