A ferocious blaze has devastated the Wang Fuk Court public housing complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district, leaving at least 94 people dead and more than 270 missing in a tragedy that has shaken the city. The fire, which broke out around 2:51 PM local time on Wednesday, engulfed seven of the eight 31-storey towers, trapping residents and challenging hundreds of firefighters with intense heat and smoke.

This incident is now the deadliest fire in Hong Kong since 1948, prompting a swift criminal investigation into its cause. The rapid spread of the flames has raised urgent questions about building safety standards during renovations, directly impacting the thousands of residents who call these high-rise buildings home and stirring fears about the safety of similar housing projects across the densely populated territory.

Negligence Probe Underway

Authorities have arrested three men—two directors and an engineering consultant, aged 52 to 68—connected to the construction company responsible for the renovation works at the complex. Police superintendent Eileen Chung stated that they have reason to believe the firm was "grossly negligent," leading to the fire spreading uncontrollably and causing mass casualties. The investigation is focusing on the materials used for the renovation, including bamboo scaffolding, green safety netting, and plastic sheeting that wrapped the buildings. Officials suspect these materials were not up to fire safety standards and that highly flammable polystyrene foam found at the site may have acted as an accelerant.

A Vertical Inferno

The fire is believed to have started on the bamboo scaffolding of one tower before quickly climbing the building's exterior and spreading to adjacent blocks, aided by windy conditions. This created a scenario where multiple floors across several buildings were ablaze simultaneously, making rescue operations exceedingly difficult for the 767 firefighters deployed to the scene. One firefighter, 37-year-old Ho Wai-ho, a nine-year veteran of the service, died in the line of duty. The tragedy has highlighted the risks associated with bamboo scaffolding, a common feature in Hong Kong construction that the government had already planned to phase out over safety concerns.

The Human Cost

The blaze has left a deep scar on the Tai Po community, a suburban district that is home to about 300,000 people. The Wang Fuk Court, built in 1983, houses nearly 2,000 apartments and around 4,800 residents, many of whom are now displaced. The government has opened temporary shelters for over 900 evacuated residents.

• **Fatalities:** At least 94 people confirmed dead, including one firefighter.
• **Injured:** 76 people were injured, including 11 firefighters.
• **Missing:** More than 270 people remain unaccounted for.
• **Displaced:** Thousands of residents have been evacuated from the seven affected towers.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed his condolences to the victims and their families, urging authorities to make every effort in the rescue and investigation. As rescue teams continue to search the charred remains of the buildings, the city is left to mourn and demand answers to prevent such a disaster from ever happening again.