Hong Kong Fire: At least 55 Dead, Nearly 300 Missing As Fire Continues To Burn

Flames have engulfed Wang Fuk Court, a housing complex made up of eight blocks in Hong Kong's Tai Po district in the north east, since Wednesday afternoon.

At least 55 were killed in the blaze, the city's fire department said, with hundreds others injured. Some 279 people are believed to be missing.

Hong Kong authorities said three have been arrested over suspected manslaughter.

This blog will bring you the latest on the devastating Hong Kong fire on Thursday November 27, 2025.

Death toll rises to 55

The death toll from the huge fire which engulfed a Hong Kong housing estate rose to 55, the fire department said on Thursday morning.

A department spokesman told a news conference that hundreds were still missing.

Hong Kong authorities said the fire was finally under control.

What do we know about the devastating blaze?

Since Wednesday afternoon, teams of firefighters have been attempting to douse the flames at Wang Fuk Court, a housing complex made up of eight blocks in the city's Tai Po district in the north east.

The fire was still burning in the early hours of Thursday, although authorities say it has been brought under control.

The fire department said it received reports on Wednesday at 2:51 p.m. (6:51 am GMT) of a fire in the residential complex. It was upgraded to a Number 4 alarm at 3:34 p.m. and as night fell it was declared a five-alarm fire, the highest level.

Firefighters deployed 128 fire trucks and 57 ambulances to the scene.

Earlier, local media had reported that an unknown number of people were trapped in the 31-storey towers — housing around 2,000 residential apartments.

Taipo District Council member, Lo Hiu-fung, told local broadcaster TVB that most of the residents trapped in the fire were believed to be elderly people.

A number of towers currently burning have bamboo scaffolding and construction netting fitted to their exterior.

TVB reported that the complex was undergoing major renovations.

Read our full report on the blaze when it started on Wednesday here.

Welcome to our coverage of the Hong Kong fire

You join us just as authorities in Hong Kong say the fire, burning for nearly a day, is under control, though it still continues to burn.

At least 44 people have been killed in the devastating blaze, while authorities have made three arrests. Some 279 people are thought to be missing.

Search and rescue efforts remain ongoing, with reports suggesting most of those still trapped in the high-rise blocks are elderly citizens.

Source: DW