Dozens more bodies found following Hong Kong fire, increasing death toll to 128

HONG KONG Emergency teams in Hong Kong discovered dozens of more bodies on Friday while conducting a thorough apartment-by-apartment search of a high-rise residential complex, following a devastating fire that consumed seven out of eight buildings. The confirmed death count has now reached at least 128, marking one of the citys deadliest fires in recent history.

Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of the Hong Kong Fire Services, stated that crews focused on units from which over twenty calls for help were made during the fire but could not initially be reached. The death toll rose by 34 after additional victims were located. Secretary for Security Chris Tang noted that the search is ongoing and numbers may continue to increase. He added that some of the recovered victims were so severely burned that identification remains pending, and the full investigation into the incident is expected to take three to four weeks.

Andy Yeung, director of Hong Kong Fire Services, reported that some fire alarms in the complex were nonfunctional, which may lead to legal action. The fire began on Wednesday afternoon in one of the Wang Fuk Court complex towers and rapidly spread to the adjacent buildings, fueled by bamboo scaffolding covered in netting used for renovations. Firefighters required nearly 24 hours to gain control, and smoke continued to rise from the damaged buildings for almost two days. The fire was officially declared extinguished on Friday morning.

A total of 2,300 firefighters and medical personnel participated in the operation. Among the 79 injured, 12 were firefighters. The number of residents still inside the affected towers remains uncertain. The Tai Po district complex, located in Hong Kongs northern suburb near the mainland border, housed nearly 2,000 apartments with around 4,800 residents.

Most casualties were reported in the first two towers that caught fire. The apartment buildings, primarily occupied by elderly residents, were constructed in the 1980s and were undergoing major renovations. Hong Kongs anti-corruption agency is investigating potential misconduct connected to the renovation project. Three men directors and an engineering consultant from a construction company were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, with police citing gross negligence. Prestige Construction & Engineering Company has been identified as overseeing the renovations, and authorities seized documents from their offices.

Investigators suspect that some exterior wall materials failed to meet fire-resistance standards, contributing to the rapid fire spread. Plastic foam panels, highly flammable, were also found attached to windows near elevator lobbies in one unaffected tower. The panels were reportedly installed by the construction company, though their purpose is unclear. Authorities plan to inspect other housing estates undergoing renovations to ensure scaffolding and materials comply with safety regulations.

This incident is the deadliest fire in Hong Kong in decades. Historical comparisons include a 1996 Kowloon commercial building fire that killed 41 people, and a 1948 warehouse fire that claimed 176 lives. Researcher Shihuan Chen in Beijing contributed to this report. The story also corrects the name of the fire services official to Derek Armstrong Chan.

Commentary: Tragedy in Hong Kong Highlights Major Safety Concerns

The devastating fire at the Wang Fuk Court complex has now claimed at least 128 lives, marking a grim chapter in Hong Kong's recent history. As emergency teams continue their exhaustive search of the affected high-rise, the full scope of the disaster is still unfolding. With over 2,000 residents housed in the complex, the fire's rapid spread—exacerbated by nonfunctional fire alarms and substandard materials—has raised critical questions about building safety and regulatory oversight.

Initial reports have already revealed systemic failures. The fact that fire alarms were disabled in some units, coupled with highly flammable construction materials, underscores a troubling trend. The use of plastic foam panels, which failed to meet fire-resistance standards, has come under particular scrutiny. Moreover, the involvement of a construction company with connections to the renovation project adds a layer of complexity to the investigation, suggesting potential criminal negligence. With multiple arrests, the authorities are now piecing together how such dangerous conditions were allowed to exist in a building that housed many elderly residents.

While the search and investigation continue, it is clear that this incident will likely have far-reaching consequences for construction and safety regulations in Hong Kong. As the authorities examine the practices surrounding the renovation and the adequacy of fire prevention measures, the city faces a pressing need for comprehensive reform to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated.

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• Dozens more bodies recovered after Hong Kong blaze, raising death toll to 128