A blaze that extended across several high-rise apartments in a Hong Kong housing complex resulted in at least 13 deaths, CNN reported. Fire services confirmed the toll, adding that other persons are feared to be trapped indoors.
At least five buildings situated near each other in the city’s Tai Po district were shown on video from the scene to be ablaze, with flames exiting the windows of many of the apartments, CNN noted.
Smoke rises as flames engulf bamboo scaffolding across multiple buildings at Wang Fuk Court housing estate, in Tai Po, Hong Kong, China, November 26, 2025 (Tyrone Siu/TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY) REUTERS
In a press conference held Wednesday evening, Assistant Chief Ambulance Officer Chou Wing Yin disclosed that 13 people have died and 15 people are injured. Nine individuals, including one firefighter, passed away at the scene of the blaze, while four people died after they arrived at a hospital, said the official cited by CNN. Two firefighters are among the 15 people hurt, with one suffering from a severe case of exhaustion and the other with a leg injury.
Efforts focus on extinguishing fire that engulfed bamboo scaffolding surrounding numerous buildings at the Wang Fuk Court estate, per CNN.
The Hong Kong housing complex affected by the fire is currently encircled by bamboo scaffolding, CNN‘s Karina Tsui reported. Bamboo scaffolding is widely seen throughout the city’s dense, vertically oriented urban environment; these scaffolds, sometimes hundreds of feet high, are built on skyscrapers and wrapped in fabric safety nets, creating vivid green, blue, and purple cocoon-like structures, CNN mentioned. It is utilized not only for new building construction but also for the yearly renovation of thousands of high-rise structures and historic tenements (“tong lau”).
Due to safety concerns, its usage is diminishing as the government has initiated efforts to replace it with metal scaffolding. The Hong Kong government’s Development Bureau announced that 50% of new public building projects erected from March onward must utilize metal scaffolding to “better protect workers” and to align with contemporary construction standards observed in “advanced cities.” According to Hong Kong’s Labour Dep
Jerome Taylor of CNN noted that this fire is the city’s worst in almost three decades. Seventeen people perished after a karaoke bar fire in 1997, and nine died in the Mong Kok district in a 2011 fire, CNN confirmed.
At least five other people sustained “critical” injuries in the large-scale blaze that trapped multiple residents inside the Wang Fuk Court housing estate. On Wednesday, intense flames spread across the exterior bamboo scaffolding, causing enormous plumes of dark smoke to billow high into the sky over the scene as the fire consumed a minimum of four apartment blocks.
Video: Massive fire in Hong Kong on November 26, 2025 / Reuters
A man, Wong, 71, reported his wife was stuck inside the Wang Fuk Court development during the huge blaze on November 26, 2025, as ABC News reported.
A man reacts, as smoke rises while flames engulf bamboo scaffolding across multiple buildings at Wang Fuk Court housing estate, in Tai Po, Hong Kong, China, November 26, 2025 (REUTERS/Tyrone Siu)
Police received numerous distress calls about trapped residents at the building where the blaze began, which included reports of a man and a woman unconscious and suffering from burns, South China Morning Post noted. Originally classified as a low-level No 1 alarm fire, the severity increased rapidly to No 4 by 3:34 p.m., before reaching the highest level, No 5, at 6:22 p.m. The rating system in Hong Kong designates higher numbers on the one-to-five scale for greater fire severity.
Thick smoke and flames rise as a major fire engulfs several apartment blocks at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on November 26, 2025 (Yan ZHAO / AFP)
Images from the site revealed bamboo scaffolding outside several flats of the building entirely engulfed in the flames, reported the South China Morning Post. Sections of the green scaffolding mesh that were alight could be seen falling down towards the ground.
The immense scale and speed of the blaze at Wang Fuk Court, fueled by the external bamboo scaffolding, led to mass casualties and the tragic death of a responding firefighter, South China Morning Post reported.
Plumes of dark, large smoke rose high above the scene at Wang Fuk Court, as the fire spread to a minimum of four blocks within the estate. Police confirmed receiving various reports of people trapped, with a man and woman reported as unconscious due to burns, as the SCMP noted.
Eighty-three-year-old retiree Chan Kwong-tak, who lives in the community, reported that the fire alarms, despite being installed in the buildings, did not activate when the fire started that afternoon. Chan asserted, “If someone was sleeping then, they were done,” stating residents had to flee independently. He further mentioned that prior grievances about construction quality and worker smoking to the management office were all ignored. Former district councilor Herman Yiu Kwan-ho told the Post that alarms failed even after residents smelled burning, stating residents were only alerted by a security guard knocking on doors, which provided minimal time for escape.
The Cornwall Court blaze in 2008 was the last time Hong Kong had a No 5 alarm fire. That incident, which started in a Mong Kok nightclub, killed four people, including two firefighters, and left 55 injured.
Watching the buildings burn from a park, Wang Tao Court resident Miss Wong and her son expressed frustration, questioning why firefighters had not used water bombs given the sea’s proximity, especially as hundreds of people gathered nearby amid popping sounds from falling debris. Wong estimated that some residents remained trapped. Her son indicated that the exterior wall renovation, originally slated for a May completion, has been ongoing for more than a year. The family confirmed they did not see any smoking issues related to the project.
Thick smoke and flames rise as a major fire engulfs several apartment blocks at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on November 26, 2025 (Yan ZHAO / AFP)
She and her son, long-time lower-floor residents, questioned the firefighters’ lack of water bomb deployment to accelerate the operation, especially considering the proximity of the sea.
Her son also pointed out that the exterior wall renovation was now over a year late, having been scheduled for a May completion. The family confirmed they did not notice any smoking issues related to the work.
Wang Fuk Court experienced a major blaze this afternoon, and the flames moved to multiple buildings, starting when Wang Cheong House’s external scaffolding ignited, then quickly spreading to nearby buildings such as Wang Tai House and Wang San House. One firefighter was tragically killed while attempting to extinguish the fire, which also caused four civilian deaths and three injuries by 5 p.m., according to Hong Kong 01.
The Fire Services Department used its official social media channel, “香港消防處 (“Hong Kong Fire Services Department”) Facebook page, to provide an update, issuing a special notice), Hong Kong 01 noted. The notice stated the fire began at Wang Fuk Court, Tai Po, at 2:51 p.m. on Wednesday, November 26. It was upgraded to a three-alarm fire at 3:02 p.m. and further to a four-alarm fire at 3:34 p.m. Firefighters were actively engaged in suppression efforts, and nearby residents were advised to remain indoors, keep their doors and windows closed, maintain composure, and avoid the area affected by the emergency, Hong Kong 01 reported. The blaze was finally upgraded to a five-alarm status near 7 p.m. Wednesday night.
Smoke rises while flames burn bamboo scaffolding on a building at Wang Fuk Court housing estate, in Tai Po, Hong Kong, China, November 26, 2025 (REUTERS/Tyrone Siu)
Members of the public expressed gratitude to the firefighters by posting messages on the department’s public social media page. Comments were made saying: “辛苦各位消防員, 平安回家” (loosely translated: “thanks to all firefighters, return home safely”), “願所有消防員平安, 希望受傷人員得到最適切的救治, 儘快康復, 感恩有您們” (loosely translated: “may all firefighters be safe, hope the injured receive the best treatment, recover quickly, thankful for you all”), “辛苦每一位前線消防員和救護員們, 大家要平安, 萬事小心” (loosely translated: “thanks to all frontline firefighters and paramedics, everyone stay safe, be careful in all things”), “消防員加油, 照顧自身安全” (loosely translated: “firefighters keep up the good work, take care of your own safety”), and “願大家一定要小心, 平平安安, 齊齊整整. 辛苦哂” (loosely translated: “may everyone be careful, safe, and sound. thank you for your hard work”), and also, “消防員要平安” (loosely translated: “firefighters be safe”).
The public conveyed sympathy for the families of the deceased rescue worker, urging first responders to ensure their own safety while performing their duties, Hong Kong 01 said. One comment acknowledged the challenge the crew faced, stating, “雖然傳出不幸嘅消息, 你們仍帶著傷痛嘅心情, 勇敢上前線幫忙救火, 實在令人敬佩” (loosely translated: “although unfortunate news was heard, you are still carrying the pain and bravely stepping forward to help fight the fire, truly admirable”)
. Further comments included: “辛苦曬, 消防員” (loosely translated: “thanks to all firefighters”), “辛苦消防員, 救人重要, 也要注意自身安全” (loosely translated: “thanks to firefighters, saving people is important, also pay attention to your own safety”), “為受傷職員送上祝福, 早日康復, 逝去者家屬節哀順變” (loosely translated: “send blessings to the injured staff, recover quickly, condolences to the family of the deceased”), “消防員, 一定先保護好自己, 大家平安收工” (loosely translated: “firefighters, you must first protect yourselves, everyone return home safely after work”), and “消防英雄萬事小心, 要安全返屋企!” (loosely translated: “fire heroes be careful in all things, return home safely!”).
