HONG KONG — Police have arrested three men in connection with the catastrophic fire that tore through a residential complex in Hong Kong this week, killing at least 44 people and leaving hundreds unaccounted for in what officials are calling one of the city’s deadliest urban disasters in decades.
The blaze erupted Wednesday afternoon at Wang Fuk Court, part of a densely populated housing estate in the Tai Po district. Within minutes, flames raced up the scaffolding surrounding the building, fueled by renovation materials that firefighters later described as “highly combustible.”
Residents said the fire moved so fast that many never had a chance to escape. “The smoke was already at our door before we even smelled it,” said Mei Ling Chan, 62, who lives on the ninth floor and escaped with her husband but fears several neighbors didn’t make it out.
Arrests Made as Negligence Investigation Widens
Hong Kong police said Thursday they had taken into custody two directors and a consulting engineer from the construction company overseeing external maintenance work on the building. All three are being investigated for manslaughter by gross negligence.
According to early findings, sections of the building were wrapped in flammable plastic sheeting and mesh, materials that should not have been used under current safety regulations. Investigators also believe that some windows were temporarily sealed with foam insulation during renovation — a decision that may have blocked escape routes and prevented smoke from venting out.
Superintendent Lau Chi-wai told reporters that investigators are “examining every step of the renovation approval process,” adding that more arrests could follow.
Desperate Search for the Missing
Authorities say 279 people remain missing more than 24 hours after the blaze, though officials warn the number may change as search teams gain access to higher floors that remain structurally unstable.
At a temporary shelter set up in a nearby sports hall, families clung to their phones waiting for messages from loved ones. Volunteers handed out blankets and water as social workers tried to console traumatized residents.
“I keep calling my daughter’s number,” said a father who declined to give his name. “It still rings, but she’s not answering. I just need to know if she’s alive.”
Firefighters Describe a Chaotic Battle
More than 200 firefighters responded to the scene, battling extreme heat, collapsing materials, and poor visibility. One firefighter died during rescue operations after being struck by falling debris, officials confirmed.
“It was like walking into a furnace,” said a firefighter who had worked through the night and asked not to be named because he was not authorized to speak publicly. “We heard people shouting from the upper floors, but the stairs were already blocked by smoke and fire.”
Officials say it may take several days before crews can fully search the building, given concerns about structural integrity.
The disaster has reignited long-standing concerns in Hong Kong about building safety and oversight — especially during renovation projects, when external scaffolding and coverings often remain in place for months.
Urban planning scholar Ho Man-kin called the incident “a systemic failure,” pointing to lax monitoring of construction materials and limited enforcement of safety rules in aging residential estates.
Residents have begun demanding independent investigations and calling for immediate audits of other buildings undergoing similar renovation work across the city.
As smoke continued to linger over Tai Po on Thursday morning, local residents placed white flowers near the building entrance, a traditional gesture of mourning. Some lit incense sticks, while others stood silently, staring at the darkened tower where so many lives were lost.
Chief Executive John Lee pledged a full public investigation, saying the government would “pursue accountability at every level.”
For now, Hong Kong waits — for answers, for accountability, and for news of those still missing.
About the Author
