Tragedy in Hong Kong: Questions Arise After Deadly Fire Claims 128 Lives

Fri Nov 28 2025 19:54:31 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A catastrophic blaze at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong has resulted in the deaths of at least 128 people, raising serious concerns about building safety standards and fire prevention measures.

A massive fire at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Hong Kong has devastated the community, resulting in the deaths of at least 128 individuals. The fire, exacerbated by substandard building materials, has led to outrage and demands for accountability. Investigations are ongoing, focusing on the safety practices of renovation contractors and the efficacy of fire alarms, which reportedly failed to alert residents during the incident.

Shock is giving way to anger in Hong Kong after a massive fire ripped through a densely populated subsidised housing estate on Wednesday, killing at least 128 people and critically injuring dozens.

Authorities say substandard mesh and plastic sheets on the buildings' windows may have spread the blaze, which raged for more than a day. Firefighting operations have now ended, with dozens of residents still unaccounted for.

Questions are mounting as to how the fire at Wang Fuk Court spread so rapidly and who is responsible, with many calling it a 'man-made disaster'. Three people in charge of renovating the blocks are under arrest for manslaughter, and authorities have launched a corruption inquiry.

A post that has gone viral on social media in the wake of the blaze reads: It's not an accident. Several residents have revealed in interviews that the fire alarm did not sound when the fire broke out. Kiko Ma, who owns an apartment at Wang Fuk Court, states that the alarms had been turned off amid renovation works, while construction workers frequently used fire escapes to enter and exit the building.

The deadly fire is now the most devastating the city has seen in at least 63 years, surpassing the toll of the 1962 Sham Shui Po inferno that killed 44 people. Built in the 1980s, Wang Fuk Court comprises eight 31-storey buildings, with subsidised apartments managed by privately appointed firms.

More than 4,600 residents live there, many of whom are elderly. As emergency housing units are being allocated, public outcry is directed towards authorities for perceived safety lapses during renovations, raising fears about systemic issues in building safety across Hong Kong.

The city’s fire department has been challenged in rescue efforts due to high temperatures and small apartment sizes, with some residents evacuated to temporary shelters. Investigations are ongoing to determine whether renovation materials complied with fire safety standards, as experts suggest bamboo scaffolding may have fueled the inferno.

Local authorities have ordered inspections for other housing estates undergoing significant renovations to ensure safety compliance and prevent potential future disasters.