Hong Kong high-rise inferno kills 44, hundreds still missing

Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has claimed at least 44 lives, with authorities warning that hundreds of residents remain unaccounted for after flames engulfed an eight-building high-rise estate in the Tai Po district.

Chief Executive John Lee confirmed the rising death toll early Thursday, saying that 279 people were still missing. Another 29 survivors were hospitalised, seven of whom were in critical condition.

The inferno, which broke out Wednesday afternoon at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, sent thick black smoke pouring from the 31-storey towers as firefighters battled throughout the night. Officials said intense heat and heavy darkness slowed rescue efforts, and two buildings remained difficult to access due to extreme temperatures.

Fire Services deputy director Derek Armstrong Chan said falling debris and unstable bamboo scaffolding made it dangerous for firefighters responding to desperate calls for help from trapped residents. Local media reported that many people may still be inside their homes.

Police have arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter, though no details have been released about their alleged role in the incident.

The blaze is among Hong Kong’s worst since World War II, recalling past tragedies such as the 1962 Sham Shui Po fire and the 1996 Garley Building disaster.

Residents described scenes of fear and chaos as the fire spread rapidly through bamboo scaffolding attached to the building exteriors. Witnesses reported scaffolding collapsing to the ground as dozens of fire engines and ambulances crowded the streets below.

Authorities have opened temporary shelters for displaced families and set up a hotline for casualties. People living nearby were advised to stay indoors and keep windows closed due to lingering smoke.

Tai Po, a densely populated district near the mainland border, is home to about 300,000 people. The Wang Fuk Court estate alone houses nearly 4,800 residents across its eight towers.