Wang Fuk Court fire of 2025

[edit] In Brief

On 26 November 2025, a multi-tower fire broke out at the Wang Fuk Court public housing estate in Tai Po, Hong Kong. By 1 December 2025, Hong Kong authorities initially confirmed 151 deaths, with more than 40 people missing, a figure that rose to 161 by mid December, making it one of the city’s deadliest fires since 1948.

After two days of operations, the fire was fully extinguished by Friday 28 November.

Early reporting and official testing pointed to combustible temporary works materials, including green scaffolding mesh and foam sheets fixed to windows, as major contributors to rapid external fire spread. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

[edit] What was Wang Fuk Court?

Wang Fuk Court was an eight-block high-rise housing complex in Tai Po, New Territories. Built in 1983, the tower blocks consisted of 1,984 apartments, housing over 4,600 residents.

At the time of the fire, all eight blocks were under external renovation and were wrapped in bamboo scaffolding encased with green safety netting.

[edit] Timeline of events

• Wednesday 26 November – 14:51, Hong Kong local time: The first fire was reported on the lower levels of Wang Cheong House – one of the eight apartment buildings. Fire had spread to adjacent apartment blocks, including Wang Tai House and Wang Shing House. A No. 5 alarm was raised at 18:22 local time, as flames climbed the scaffold and spread between blocks.

• 27–28 November: Sections of scaffolding had failed or collapsed, hampering firefighting and access. The fire was declared fully extinguished on Friday 28 November.

• Following days: The death toll rose as responders accessed severely damaged units. More than 1,100 residents were housed in temporary accommodation.

[edit] No. 5 alarm

Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department grades urban fires using alarms one to five, with five being the highest level used for the largest and most complex incidents.

A No. 5 alarm triggers territory-wide mobilisation and cross-government coordination, including activation of the Government’s Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre.

[edit] Fire behaviour and contributing factors

Preliminary investigations and official briefings indicated that parts of the scaffolding netting used during renovation failed fire-retardant standards. Foam sheets that were fixed to or around windows appear to have contributed to rapid vertical and lateral fire spread as flames climbed the scaffold into flats.

Seven out of the 20 netting samples tested by authorities had failed safety checks. These findings remain subject to formal investigation.

Residents and officials reported the malfunctioning of fire alarms and temporary works that interfered with compartmentation and egress. These issues form part of ongoing investigations.

[edit] Human impact

Local authorities confirmed 151 deaths as of 1 December 2025, with more than 40 people still missing and approximately 79 people injured. Even by the 10 December this figure had risen to 160, with potential to rise further.

Victims of the incident included migrant domestic workers and long-term residents from multi-generational households. Community groups organised vigils and support, and consulates coordinated tracing and welfare.

More than 1,100 people used temporary accommodation in shelters, hostels and hotels. Public donations surpassed HK$900 million, and the government established a HK$300 million support fund.

[edit] Investigation and regulatory response

By 1 December 2025, police had arrested 13 people on suspicion of manslaughter, including company directors and an engineering consultant linked to the renovation works.

The Buildings Department suspended work at 28 ongoing projects linked to the contractor while investigations proceed. Mainland authorities announced nationwide inspections of high-rise fire safety.

The Wang Fuk Court fire showed how temporary works can impact outcomes in occupied high-rise renovations. Early findings focus on the combustibility and compliance of scaffold netting and window protection materials, alongside weaknesses in warning and evacuation.

Formal investigations will establish causation and accountability. Until then, the clearest lesson is strict control of temporary materials and maintained life-safety systems wherever residents remain in occupation.

See also: Types, tests, standards and fires relating to external cladding and list of fires in high rise buildings by year.

Please note: The statistics are correct as of 1 December 2025. Image made available under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication.

--Wing Tsang (LMC)

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Approved document B.
• Building Safety Act.
• Combustibility.
• Evacuating vulnerable and dependent people from buildings in an emergency FB 52.
• External fire spread, Supplementary guidance to BR 187 incorporating probabilistic and time-based approaches.
• External fire spread: building separation and boundary distances (BR 187).
• Fire authority.
• Fire detection and alarm system.
• Fire engineer.
• Fire in buildings.
• Fire inspector.
• Fire performance of external thermal insulation for walls of multistorey buildings, third edition (BR 135).
• Fire resistance.
• Fire risk in high-rise and super high-rise buildings DG 533.
• Fire Safety Act.
• Fire safety design.
• Fire (Scotland) Act 2005.
• Fire Safety Requirements for Buildings.
• Fire spread.
• Fire stopping.
• Fire Weather Index FWI.
• Firefighting route.
• Grenfell Tower fire.
• Joint fire code.
• Leading built environment bodies call for sprinklers in all schools.
• Means of escape.
• Scottish Advice Note addresses fire risk in multi-storey residential buildings.
• The impact of automatic sprinklers on building design.
• The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
• Types, tests, standards and fires relating to external cladding.
• Wet riser.

[edit] External links

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/hong-kong-fire-death-toll-rises-160-2025-12-09/

https://apnews.com/article/hong-china-wang-fire-dissent-c0db2a85bfbeac2fdcc6003b6ee7a463

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/police-comb-fire-ravaged-hong-kong-apartments-death-toll-146-2025-12-01

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdxe9r7wjgro

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/fire-engulfs-residential-building-hong-kong-2025-11-26/?

https://www.reuters.com/graphics/HONGKONG-FIRE/SPREAD/mopabqnzqva/

https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/27/P2025112700078.htm

https://hongkongfp.com/2025/12/01/breaking-unsafe-construction-netting-found-at-tai-po-fire-site-13-arrests-for-alleged-manslaughter/

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3334643/what-are-right-lessons-hong-kongs-worst-fire-7-decades

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/hong-kong-labor-department-people-paris-chinese-b2875453.html

https://www.news.gov.hk/eng/2025/12/20251201/20251201_210754_012.html

https://news.sky.com/story/hong-kong-high-rise-fire-13-arrested-for-suspected-manslaughter-as-death-toll-hits-151-13477818

https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202511/30/P2025113000022.htm

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2025_Tai_Po_apartment_fire.jpg