Hong Kong fire tragedy: Death toll rises to 44, nearly 300 missing, three officials arrested

Guwahati: A devastating fire at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court apartment complex has claimed 44 lives, while nearly 300 residents remain missing, according to local authorities. Police have arrested three senior officials of a construction company on suspicion of manslaughter as investigators probe the causes behind the disaster.

Early findings suggest that the blaze intensified rapidly because polystyrene boards had been placed against windows at the renovation site. A report highlighted that bamboo scaffolding and green construction mesh wrapped around the buildings likely acted as fuel, helping flames leap from one tower to another.

Fire raged across multiple towers for over 15 hours

The fire erupted on Wednesday afternoon in the sprawling Tai Po housing estate and burned through the night. Fire crews battled the inferno for more than 15 hours, attempting to reach people trapped on the upper floors of several 32-storey blocks. By Thursday morning, smoke and flames were still visible.

Authorities managed to bring parts of four towers under control, but they warned that three more blocks remained highly unstable, forcing responders to move cautiously.

During inspections, police discovered that a block untouched by the fire also had foam-sealed windows, a modification allegedly carried out by the same renovation company under investigation. Hong Kong Police Superintendent Eileen Chung accused the firm of “gross negligence”, saying its actions may have allowed the fire to spread uncontrollably.

Police have detained two company directors and an engineering consultant linked to the ongoing renovation project.

Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze since World War II

Among the victims is a firefighter, while 45 survivors are currently in critical condition. The scale of the tragedy surpasses the 1996 Kowloon fire, making it the worst fire Hong Kong has seen since World War II. The incident has also drawn comparisons to the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London.

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said the government’s immediate priority is to put out remaining fires and rescue those still stranded. China’s President Xi Jinping has urged authorities to make an “all-out effort” to reduce casualties and stabilise the situation.

Citywide disruptions as rescue continues

The massive emergency response has caused disruptions across Hong Kong. Authorities have shut multiple roads, diverted 39 bus routes, and closed six schools on Thursday due to restricted access. The education bureau told the BBC that 13 schools will suspend classes today.

Educational psychologists have been deployed to temporary shelters near the disaster site to provide emotional support to affected students and families.