Hong Kong fire latest: rescue crews search for survivors after 55 killed and hundreds reported missing

8.19am GMT

Smoke and flames rise as a major fire engulfs several residential buildings at Wang Fuk Court on in Hong Kong.

7.44am GMT

The tightly packed complex in the northern Tai Po district has 2,000 apartments in eight blocks that are home to more than 4,600 people in a city struggling with chronic shortages of affordable housing.
“We bought in this building more than 20 years ago. All of our belongings were in this building, and now that it has all burned like this, what’s left?” a 51-year-old resident, with the surname Wan, told Reuters.
“There’s nothing left. What are we supposed to do?”
A woman surnamed Ng, 52, was distraught as she searched for her daughter outside a shelter.
“She and her father are still not out yet. They didn’t have water to save our building,” she sobbed, carrying her daughter’s graduation photo.
Video from the scene showed flames leaping from at least two of the 32-storey towers sheathed in green construction mesh and bamboo scaffolding.

7.23am GMT
Hong Kong authorities say death toll has now risen to 55

Hong Kong authorities have said the death toll has now risen to 55, with a further 72 injured, in the apartment complex fire.
Almost a full day after the fire began, firefighters were struggling to reach residents potentially trapped on the upper floors of the Wang Fuk Court housing complex due to intense heat and thick smoke from the fire that erupted on Wednesday afternoon.

Updated at 7.23am GMT

7.00am GMT
Summary

It’s 3pm in Hong Kong and in case you’re just joining us here’s a recap of the latest news on the devastating blaze at a residential block that has killed at least 44 people and left almost 300 missing.

Firefighters were continuing to battle to reach residents who may be trapped on the upper floors of the Wang Fuk Court housing complex on Thursday due to the intense heat and thick smoke from the fire.
The death toll had reached 44, with 45 people in hospital in critical condition, authorities said on Thursday, making it the deadliest Hong Kong fire in decades. Hong Kong chief executive John Lee said some 279 people were uncontactable and 900 were in eight shelters.
Police alleged that unsafe scaffolding and foam materials used during maintenance work may have been behind the rapid spread of the fire that erupted on Wednesday at a group of residential tower blocks in the city’s Tai Po district.
The blaze looked to have largely burned out by Thursday afternoon. Authorities said earlier they had brought it under control in four blocks and operations were continuing in three.
A taskforce has been set up to investigate the cause of the blaze. Eileen Chung, a Hong Kong police superintendent, alleged on Thursday: “We have reason to believe that the company’s responsible parties were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in major casualties.”
Three men from the construction company – two directors and one engineering consultant – had been arrested, Chung said, without giving further details.

The fire is thought to have spread on bamboo scaffolding around the building and was likely aided by windy conditions. Police alleged the buildings were covered with protective mesh sheets and plastic that may not meet fire standards, and discovered some windows on one unaffected building were sealed with a foam material. The housing site – made up of eight 31-storey towers containing about 2,000 flats – was undergoing renovation work at the time of the fire.
China’s leader Xi Jinping urged an “all-out effort” to extinguish the fire and to minimise casualties and losses, China’s state broadcaster CCTV said, as residents voiced anger online at the blaze’s possible causes.
Several forums and campaign events related to 7 December elections that had been scheduled for the coming days have been cancelled.

Updated at 7.18am GMT

6.52am GMT

Shares in China Taiping Insurance Holdings dropped as much as 8% on Thursday on concerns about its potential liability exposure to the fire-hit apartment complex.
According to publicly available minutes of meetings of registered owners of Wang Fuk Court, members approved the continuation of insurance coverage for the housing complex with China Taiping Insurance (Hong Kong) Ltd in December last year, Reuters is reporting.
The policy period runs from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2026, the records show.
China Taiping Insurance Holdings and its unit China Taiping Insurance (Hong Kong) did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

6.38am GMT
Hong Kong to inspect all under-repair housing estates – leader

Hong Kong authorities will immediately inspect all housing estates undergoing major works after the deadly fire that ripped through the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex, says the city’s leader.
John Lee said in a Facebook post quoted by AFP on Thursday:

The government has immediately arranged for inspections of all housing estates across the city undergoing major repairs, to examine the safety of scaffolding and building materials.

6.17am GMT

Firefighters have been continuing to battle to reach residents who may be trapped on the upper floors of the Hong Kong housing complex due to the intense heat and thick smoke generated by the fire.
As our new full report on the disaster details, authorities say the death toll remains at 44, with 45 people in hospital in critical condition, making it the deadliest Hong Kong fire in decades.
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Hong Kong map

By Thursday afternoon the fire appeared to have largely burned out. Earlier, authorities said they had brought the fire in four blocks under control and operations were continuing in three blocks.
The blaze has prompted comparisons to the Grenfell Tower inferno that killed 72 people in London in 2017. That fire was blamed on firms fitting the exterior with flammable cladding, as well as failings by the government and the construction industry.
The Grenfell United survivors’ group posted on X on Thursday:

Our hearts go out to all those affected by the horrific fire in Hong Kong. To the families, friends and communities, we stand with you. You are not alone.

You can see our full report from Helen Davidson and agencies here:

Related: Hong Kong fire: police blame construction company’s ‘gross negligence’ as death toll rises to 44

Updated at 6.22am GMT

5.57am GMT

Hong Kong’s leader has said the city will inspect housing estates that are under repair in the aftermath of the fire, AFP is reporting.
We’ll bring you more on this soon.

Updated at 6.38am GMT

5.54am GMT

Major donations to help with relief efforts after the Hong Kong fire are continuing to come in.
The latest include the Jack Ma Foundation pledging $HK30m ($3.9m) for aid to people affected and Chinese sportswear company 361 Degrees announcing $HK15m ($1.9m) in cash and supplies for the recovery.
TikTok owner ByteDance says it is donating $HK10m and Fuguiniao Group has pledged $HK15m in cash and equipment, Reuters is reporting.

5.21am GMT

As firefighters battled to find survivors in the flaming apartment complex overnight, another band of volunteers swung into action – to rescue the estate’s pets.
Reuters reports that dozens of workers from Hong Kong’s animal welfare agencies turned out with oxygenated pet carriers and animal ambulances to search for pets as media posts depicted elderly people weeping for animals they left behind in the rush to save human lives.
Some animal welfare workers carrying cages negotiated with police to allow them through cordons keeping out the public as fire raged in the complex on Thursday.
“Pet owners contacted our alliance and we compiled a list of more than 100 cases,” said Anson Cheng of the animal welfare group Hong Kong Guardians.

We shared the cases with firefighters so that they can help check the flats and pick up the pets if they see them.

Cheng said that as of Thursday morning, at least 10 cats, seven dogs and several turtles had been rescued.
Hong Kong’s system of micro-chipping dogs and cats meant it was possible that some survivors could be reunited with pets that escaped the blaze, he said.

5.04am GMT

More comments are emerging from people affected by the blaze as authorities continues operations in three of the four apartment blocks.
A woman surnamed Ng, 52, was distraught as she looked for her daughter outside a shelter.
“She and her father are still not out yet. They didn’t have water to save our building,” she said, sobbing and carrying her daughter’s graduation photo.
A long-time resident surnamed Chu said she still had not been able to contact her friends who lived in the next block. After staying at a friend’s place on Wednesday night, the 70-year-old woman came back to see her home still burning.
“We don’t know what to do,” she said.
Reuters also reports that an online app showed missing persons reports submitted through a linked Google document that detailed residents of individual towers and rooms.
It includes descriptions such as “Mother-in-law in her 70s, missing” or “one boy and one girl” or “Rooftop: 33-year-old male”. One description simply says “27th floor, room 1: He is dead”.
The news agency could not independently verify the information on the app.

Updated at 5.07am GMT

4.37am GMT

Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, has sent his condolences to Hong Kong over the fire.
“At this moment, let us pray for Hong Kong,” he posted on X Thursday.

I extend my deepest condolences to all my friends in Hong Kong who lost their lives in this disaster and to their families, and offer my sincere sympathies to the injured. I also hope that the missing will be found safely soon.

4.19am GMT

China’s sportswear company ANTA Group says it has donated HK$30m ($3.9m) in cash and equipment to support relief efforts around the Hong Kong blaze.
Chinese technology company Tencent says it has given HK$10m for emergency relief and resettlement of the fire’s victims.
Another Chinese tech company, Xiaomi, says it is donating HK$10m to the relief effort.
Reuters also reports China’s Red Cross as saying it is giving 2m yuan ($282,500) in support.

3.21am GMT
Visual guide to the HK blaze

We’ve just launched a visual guide – including graphics, maps, pictures and video footage – to show how the Hong Kong fire disaster unfolded.
As it describes, firefighters working through Wednesday night struggled to reach the top floors of the 31-storey towers where many people were thought to be trapped.
Falling debris and the extreme heat of the blaze made it difficult for rescuers to access the building and officials said that since the complex was undergoing maintenance, many residents kept their windows shut and did not hear the fire alarm.
The fire was able to spread quickly across bamboo scaffolding and construction netting that had been set up around the buildings.
By this morning the blaze had noticeably lowered in intensity but a number of apartments were still burning.
You can see the full visual explainer here:

Related: How the Hong Kong fire unfolded – visual guide

Updated at 3.29am GMT

3.01am GMT
HK police allege possible negligence over fire

Police have said the huge fire at the Hong Kong apartment complex may have been spread by unsafe scaffolding and foam materials used during maintenance work.
They said on Thursday that in addition to the buildings being covered with protective mesh sheets and plastic that might not meet fire standards, they discovered some windows on one unaffected building were sealed with a foam material, Reuters reports.
The highly flammable material had been installed by a construction company carrying out maintenance work, they said.
Eileen Chung, a Hong Kong police superintendent, said:

We have reason to believe that the company’s responsible parties were grossly negligent, which led to this accident and caused the fire to spread uncontrollably, resulting in major casualties.

Three men from the construction company – two directors and one engineering consultant – had been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter over the fire, Chung said.
By Thursday morning, authorities said they had brought the fire in four blocks under control while operations were continuing in three blocks.
The green construction mesh and bamboo scaffolding used on the buildings are a mainstay of traditional Chinese architecture but have been subject to a phase-out in Hong Kong since March for safety reasons.

Updated at 3.04am GMT

2.18am GMT

We’ve just launched a video report that includes how a police taskforce has been set up to investigate the cause of the fire at the Hong Kong apartment complex.
Authorities say three men aged 52 to 68 have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter connected to the blaze.
The report also has residents describing the fire, including one man who said his wife was missing. He said she tried to escape.

But once she left the flat the corridor and stairs were all filled with smoke and it was all dark so she had no choice but to go back to the flat.

See the video here:

Updated at 2.21am GMT

2.01am GMT

Here are some fresh shots that have arrived from the fire scene in Hong Kong.

1.42am GMT

Circling back to the start of the fire, officials said it began on the external scaffolding of one of the buildings mid-afternoon on Wednesday and later spread inside it and then to nearby buildings, probably assisted by windy conditions.
Fire chiefs said the high temperatures at the scene made it difficult for crews to mount rescue operations. A column of flames and thick smoke rose as the blaze spread quickly on bamboo scaffolding and construction netting that had been set up around the exterior of the buildings.
Firefighters aimed water at the intense flames from high up on ladder trucks.
The blaze was upgraded to a level 5 alarm – the highest level of severity – as night fell. Firefighters deployed more than 200 fire vehicles and about 100 ambulances, the Associated Press also reported
“Debris and scaffolding of the affected buildings [is] falling down,” said Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of Fire Service operations.

The temperature inside the buildings concerned is very high. It’s difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations.

By early Thursday the blaze had been brought under control but firefighters are continuing to extinguish it entirely.

Updated at 2.28am GMT

1.20am GMT

Noting now that while Hong Kong leader John Lee said early on Thursday that 279 people were unaccounted for, firefighters said later that they had established contact with some of them.
Lee said more than 900 people had sought refuge at temporary shelters.
A police officer at one of the shelters told AFP it was unclear how many people were unaccounted for because residents were still trickling in late into the night to report missing family members.
Among the 44 confirmed dead was a 37-year-old firefighter who was found with burns on his face half an hour after losing contact with colleagues, said fire service director Andy Yeung.

1.04am GMT
Residents describe 'terrifying' blaze spreading between buildings

More word here from residents of the Hong Kong neighbourhood where the fire broke out.
“I truly think it’s very scary. I am watching it spread from just one building to three, then four,” Veezy Chan, 25, said on Wednesday. “It’s really terrifying.”
Shirley Chan called the tragedy terribly sad. “Imagine a home – gone, burnt. Anyone would be heartbroken. I can relate to that; it’s truly heartbreaking.

A home, gone in flames. I can’t even put it into words.

Agence France-Presse also quoted a 65-year-old surnamed Yuen as saying his neighbourhood was home to many elderly residents who used wheelchairs and walkers, and the fire left him and his wife homeless.
He said that since the apartment complex was undergoing maintenance, many residents kept their windows shut, so they did not hear the fire alarm.
Residents also said they had never anticipated the flames would spread to other buildings with the wind and burn all night long.
Chan said she “watched the fire burn and couldn’t do anything”.

Updated at 3.30am GMT

12.49am GMT

Here are two of the latest images coming in as Hong Kong firefighters continue work to fully extinguish the devastating blaze.

Updated at 12.51am GMT

12.43am GMT

It’s approaching 8.45am in Hong Kong and firefighters are still dousing the blaze that has torn through the high-rise complex.
After daybreak on Thursday some flats were still burning but the fire had noticeably dimmed during the early hours of the morning, Agence France-Presse is reporting.

Updated at 1.06am GMT

12.20am GMT
Hong Kong blaze: what we know so far

Almost 280 people are still missing amid the Hong Kong blaze that has killed at least 44 people and left dozens more in critical condition.
Our just-launched rundown on what we know so far about the fire also details how it has not yet been fully extinguished but the flames in the four buildings are under control.
The Wang Fuk Court complex is made up of eight 32-storey towers, containing about 2,000 flats, and were being renovated at the time.
Three men aged between 52 and 68 were, as reported, arrested on Thursday morning on suspicion of manslaughter.
Firefighters and rescue crews started searching the lower levels of some of the buildings on Thursday. Twenty-six rescue teams are on site.
More than 900 people have been evacuated to temporary shelters as the rescue work continues.
See the full rundown here:

Related: Hong Kong fire: what we know so far

Updated at 1.12am GMT

12.01am GMT

The cause of the Hong Kong blaze is not yet known but the fire has been fanned by green construction mesh and bamboo scaffolding – a mainstay of traditional Chinese architecture but subject to a phase-out in Hong Kong since March for safety reasons.
Hong Kong is one of the last places in the world where bamboo is still widely used for scaffolding in construction.
On mainland China, where use of bamboo in construction originated from ancient times, scaffolding is now mainly metal, Reuters reports.
Hong Kong’s government moved to start phasing out bamboo scaffolding in March, citing worker safety after 22 deaths involving bamboo scaffolders between 2019 and 2024.
It announced that 50% of public construction works would be required to use metal frames instead.

Updated at 12.06am GMT

11.49pm GMT

‘It’s heartbreaking’
Word from residents of the housing complex has been coming through, including a 71-year-old resident surnamed Wong who said through tears that his wife was trapped inside.
Harry Cheung, who has lived at block 2 in one of the complexes for more than 40 years, said he heard a loud noise about 2.45pm and saw fire erupt in a nearby block.
“I immediately went back to pack up my things,” the 66-year-old told Reuters.

I don’t even know how I feel right now. I’m just thinking about where I’m going to sleep tonight because I probably won’t be able to go back home.

Dozens of stunned residents, many sobbing, have been watching the blaze as smoke billowed from the housing complex.
“There’s nothing that can be done about the property. We can only hope that everyone, no matter old or young, can return safely,” a Tai Po resident who gave their surname as So told Agence France-Presse near the scene.

It’s heartbreaking. We’re worried there are people trapped inside.

Updated at 12.25am GMT

11.28pm GMT

China’s leader Xi Jinping has urged an “all-out effort” to extinguish the Hong Kong fire and to minimise casualties and losses, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has reported.
He also extended condolences to victims’ families and others affected.

Updated at 12.06am GMT

11.20pm GMT

Section of the Tai Po Road closed
An entire section of the Tai Po Road – one of Hong Kong’s two main highways – has been closed due to the fire, and buses are being diverted.
At least six schools will be closed on Thursday because of the fire and traffic congestion, Reuters quoted the city’s education bureau as saying.
Wang Fuk Court is one of many high-rise housing complexes in Hong Kong, one of the world’s most densely populated areas. Tai Po, located near the border with mainland China, is an established suburban district with about 300,000 residents.

This is Adam Fulton picking up our live coverage. Stay with us for the latest updates.

Updated at 11.41pm GMT

10.53pm GMT
Here’s the latest on the fire

Forty-four people are confirmed dead after Hong Kong’s worst fire in decades, with dozens more currently in hospital. At least 279 people are still missing as firefighters and rescue crews begin searching some of the buildings.
The fires have not been fully extinguished, although the flames in four buildings are under control.
Three people were arrested early this morning local time on suspicion of manslaughter. Police did not provide any details about what the trio were accused of doing, although a police spokesperson told the New York Times they are two directors of a construction company and one consultant.
Officials said they will look at materials used in the buildings exterior they say may have contributed to the blaze, as well as the bamboo scaffolding surrounding the towers, which were undergoing renovations.
More than 900 people have been evacuated to temporary shelters as the rescue work continues.

Updated at 12.09am GMT

10.38pm GMT

Evacuees from the Wang Fuk Court residential estate rest in nearby shelters.

Updated at 10.43pm GMT

10.37pm GMT

Fire under control at four buildings in Wang Fuk Court complex
The flames at four of the residential buildings in the Wang Fuk Court complex are now under control. The South China Morning Post reports search efforts have started in those buildings on lower levels, with rescue teams slowly moving up through the 13th to 23rd floors of some of those towers.
They are expected to reach the top floors in the coming hours, with 26 rescue teams on site.
The South China Morning Post also reports that police said they have not ruled out foam materials used to seal windows on the buildings and for other purposes contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.

Updated at 10.42pm GMT

10.33pm GMT

Police confirm three people arrested on suspicion of manslaughter
Hong Kong police confirmed three people between the ages of 52 and 68 have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

Updated at 10.40pm GMT

10.22pm GMT
Death toll rises to 44

The death toll has risen again to 44, fire officials say.

Updated at 10.29pm GMT

10.06pm GMT

Officials said they are still having difficulties proceeding into the upper floors in some of the buildings in the residential complex as the fire continues.
Those killed or injured in the fires have mostly suffered from burns and smoke inhalation, rescue workers said.

10.00pm GMT
Death toll rises to 40

At least 40 people have died during the blaze, officials announced at an early morning press conference.
Forty-five others are in critical condition.

Updated at 10.20pm GMT

9.46pm GMT

Police have arrested three people after the deadly blaze on suspicion of manslaughter, according to local news reports. We’re expected to hear more on those arrests shortly.

9.40pm GMT

Hong Kong fire officials are about to hold a press conference with the latest details from the blaze. We’ll bring you live updates from that event.

9.25pm GMT

Firefighters have received calls from trapped residents, but are battling difficult conditions
Firefighters have struggled to reach the upper floors of the high-rise buildings, even after hours battling the blaze.
John Lee, Hong Kong’s leader, said earlier:

The priority is to extinguish the fire and rescue the residents who are trapped. The second is to support the injured. The third is to support and recover. Then, we’ll launch a thorough investigation.

Derek Armstrong Chan, the deputy director of Fire Service operations, said it had received “numerous” calls for assistance and that some residents remained trapped as of Wednesday night. He said, per the Associated Press:

Debris and scaffolding of the affected buildings [is] falling down. The temperature inside the buildings concerned is very high. It’s difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations.

Updated at 9.28pm GMT

9.16pm GMT

Where is Tai Po?
Tai Po, one of Hong Kong’s 18 districts, sits in the north of the region in the New Territories. The district is home to about 300,000 people.
The Wang Fuk Court towers are among the tallest in the district. Reuters reports the buildings have been occupied since 1983 and remain part of the government’s subsidised home ownership scheme. The complex has been undergoing renovations over the past year.
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Updated at 9.18pm GMT

9.06pm GMT

Updated at 9.10pm GMT

8.57pm GMT
Here’s what we know

At least 36 people are dead after a huge fire engulfed several residential high rises at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po. The complex is made up of eight 32-storey towers, contenting about 2,000 flats. Around 4,800 people live there.
Another 279 people are missing, John Lee, the city’s leader, said earlier today. Dozens of others were hospitalised.
More than 128 fire engines and nearly 800 firefighters were dispatched the scene, where they have spent hours trying to get the blazes under control. At least one firefighter was among the dead.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known after it reportedly started just before 3pm local time, quickly spreading through the buildings, which were covered in bamboo scaffolding.

Updated at 9.29pm GMT

8.55pm GMT

Welcome to our live blog after a devastating fire broke out at a residential apartment complex in Hong Kong. We’ll bring you the latest updates – including from a press conference with Hong Kong police – soon.
Stick with us.

Related: Death toll in Hong Kong tower block fire rises to 36 with 279 reported missing

Updated at 8.57pm GMT