At Least 13 Dead, Including Hero Firefighter, as Massive Blaze Tears Through Hong Kong High-Rise Estate

HONG KONG – A devastating fire ripped through a public housing estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday afternoon, killing at least 13 people and injuring dozens more in one of the city’s deadliest blazes in decades.

The inferno broke out at Wang Fuk Court, a densely populated complex of eight high-rise towers, at 2:51 p.m. local time. Within minutes, flames raced up the buildings’ exterior, fueled by bamboo scaffolding wrapped around several blocks for ongoing renovation work.

Fire officials rapidly escalated the alarm level: from No. 3 at 3:02 p.m. to No. 4 just 32 minutes later, eventually reaching the highest No. 5 designation as the blaze spread uncontrollably across multiple towers.

By 8 p.m., the Fire Services Department confirmed at least 13 fatalities. Only two hours earlier, the death toll had stood at four, underscoring the horrifying speed with which the situation deteriorated.

Among the dead was a 37-year-old firefighter from nearby Sha Tin Fire Station who had rushed to the scene. “We lost one of our brothers today,” Fire Services Director Andy Yeung told reporters at a somber late-night press conference, his voice cracking. “He gave his life trying to save others.”

At least 28 others were injured, many seriously. Victims were rushed to Prince of Wales Hospital and Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital, where emergency rooms were quickly overwhelmed. Several residents suffered smoke inhalation after becoming trapped on upper floors, while others sustained burns and injuries while fleeing down smoke-filled stairwells.

Eyewitnesses described apocalyptic scenes. Thick black smoke poured hundreds of feet into the sky, visible across the New Territories. Residents screamed from balconies as flames licked upward, some waving clothing or phone flashlights in desperate bids for rescue.

“I saw people hanging out of windows, shouting for help,” said retiree Mrs. Chan, 68, who lives in a neighboring block. “The fire moved so fast. It was like the whole building was burning at once.”

Authorities believe the rapid spread was caused by highly flammable bamboo scaffolding, a centuries-old construction method still widely used in Hong Kong despite repeated safety warnings. Dry, gusty weather and a red fire-danger warning in effect since Monday only worsened conditions.

Hundreds of firefighters, supported by more than 50 fire engines and ambulances, battled the blaze for hours. Tai Po Road, one of the district’s main arteries, was completely shut down, causing gridlock for miles.

Rescue operations continued into the night under floodlights, with teams searching floor by floor for survivors and victims. Several residents remain unaccounted for, officials said.

Wang Fuk Court is a typical public housing estate home to thousands of lower-income families in one of the world’s most expensive and vertical cities. Built in the 1980s and 1990s, the eight 30-plus-story towers house over 6,000 residents in cramped conditions, making evacuation especially challenging.

The tragedy has reignited long-standing concerns about fire safety in Hong Kong’s aging high-rises and the continued reliance on bamboo scaffolding. Earlier this year, the government announced plans to phase out the material out of public works projects, but implementation has been slow.

Chief Executive John Lee visited the scene Wednesday night and vowed a full investigation. “This is a heartbreaking day for Hong Kong,” he said. “We will leave no stone unturned to find out what happened and ensure it never happens again.”

Grief counselors have been dispatched to the estate, where stunned residents gathered in small groups, many clutching one another and weeping as the death toll continued to climb.

As dawn approaches Thursday, firefighting teams are still damping down hot spots, and the smell of smoke hangs heavy over Tai Po. For the families of the 13 confirmed dead, including a firefighter who ran toward danger to protect strangers, the nightmare is only beginning.

Hong Kong mourns tonight.