Hong Kong Fire Tragedy: 13 More Arrested; Death Toll Reaches To 151

The Wang Fuk Court fire in Hong Kong triggers manslaughter investigations, with focus on faulty fire systems, substandard renovation materials, and resident complaints. Authorities oversee displacement aid for thousands, while security officials warn against exploitation of the tragedy for political aims.

Hong Kong police have arrested 13 people on suspicion of manslaughter after the Wang Fuk Court housing estate fire, which has killed at least 151 residents and left more than 40 still missing, making it the city's deadliest blaze in decades and raising sharp questions about building safety, renovation oversight and official responses.

Authorities said the investigation is focusing on substandard renovation materials, faulty fire systems and earlier complaints from residents, while thousands of displaced people from the seven damaged tower blocks try to rebuild daily routines in temporary homes as frustration, grief and political tension spread across Hong Kong and beyond.

Hong Kong fire: arrests, national security fears and political tensions

Security officials said some people face suspicion of using the Hong Kong fire tragedy for political aims, as China’s national security office warned against attempts to "plunge Hong Kong back into the chaos" of 2019 and highlighted that any efforts to "disrupt Hong Kong through disaster" would bring legal consequences under national security laws.

Hong Kong Security Chief Chris Tang declined to discuss specific arrests linked to the Hong Kong fire but said: "I've noticed that some people with malicious intent, aiming to harm Hong Kong and national security, have taken advantage of this painful moment for society," before adding, "Therefore, we must take appropriate action, including enforcement measures."

Hong Kong fire: campaigners, petitions and sedition allegations

On Saturday, police detained 24-year-old Miles Kwan, a member of a group that started a petition urging an independent investigation into the Hong Kong fire, potential corruption and construction oversight, and a Reuters witness later saw Kwan leave a police station in a taxi, though Reuters could not confirm whether an arrest had been formally made.

Local media, including the South China Morning Post, reported two more people were arrested on suspicion of seditious intent after the Hong Kong fire, but police gave no comment on these cases, while sources said at least one person involved in the petition was held for around two days amid renewed debate over dissent and public accountability.

Hong Kong fire: death toll, missing residents and harrowing search

Police teams continued to move through the most damaged Wang Fuk Court towers, searching stairwells, rooftops and charred corridors for victims of the Hong Kong fire, with officers warning that some remains may never be recovered because "Some of the bodies have turned into ash, therefore we might not be able to locate all missing individuals," according to police official Tsang Shuk-yin.

Images released by the Hong Kong Police Force after the fire showed officers in hazmat suits, helmets and masks stepping through water used to fight flames, examining rooms where walls were burnt black and entire apartments at Wang Fuk Court had furniture reduced to ash, underlining how intense the fire became across the seven high-rise blocks.

Hong Kong fire: faulty renovation materials and safety failures

Investigators said several samples of the green mesh wrapped around bamboo scaffolding on Wang Fuk Court during the Hong Kong fire failed to meet fire retardant standards, and officials believe contractors knowingly installed this non-compliant material in hard-to-access spots, attempting to keep it out of sight of safety inspections during the renovation work.

Chief Secretary Eric Chan said contractors used these substandard items in hidden areas of Wang Fuk Court, while authorities also pointed to foam insulation that helped the Hong Kong fire spread faster, and officials confirmed that fire alarms at the public housing complex were not working properly when flames engulfed all seven towers.

Hong Kong fire: earlier resident complaints and history of major blazes

Hong Kong’s Labour Department said Wang Fuk Court residents had complained in September 2024 about potential fire hazards linked to the renovation, raising doubts about the mesh wrapped around scaffolding, yet authorities later told the estate that there were "relatively low fire risks", a judgment now under scrutiny after the Hong Kong fire disaster.

The Hong Kong fire at Wang Fuk Court is the city’s deadliest blaze since 1948, when 176 lives were lost in a warehouse fire, and it comes just days before legislative elections scheduled for this weekend, adding political pressure as the government faces questions about enforcement, workplace safety and building management.

Hong Kong fire: displaced residents, emergency aid and vigils

The seven Wang Fuk Court apartment blocks hit by the Hong Kong fire housed more than 4,000 people, census data shows, and authorities said over 1,100 residents have now moved from evacuation centres into temporary housing, while another 680 have been placed in youth hostels and hotels as they wait for longer-term solutions.

Many people fled the Hong Kong fire with little more than the clothes they wore, leaving important documents and savings behind, so the government announced emergency grants of HK$10,000 ($1,284) per household and offered special help to replace identity cards, passports and marriage certificates for affected Wang Fuk Court residents.

Public grief after the Hong Kong fire has stretched far beyond the estate, with thousands lining up for over a kilometre along a canal near Wang Fuk Court to light incense and leave flowers for the dead, including at least nine domestic helpers from Indonesia and one from the Philippines, while vigils are also planned in Tokyo, London and Taipei.

Hong Kong fire: warnings from Beijing and national security office

China’s national security office, responding to political reactions to the Hong Kong fire, issued a statement telling individuals not to exploit the disaster to "plunge Hong Kong back into the chaos" of 2019 protests, saying, "We sternly warn the anti-China disruptors who attempt to 'disrupt Hong Kong through disaster'," and, "No matter what methods you use, you will certainly be held accountable and strictly punished."

Amid these warnings linked to the Hong Kong fire, Beijing also signalled that it would act against any "anti-China" demonstrations, underlining that mourning, complaints about fire safety and calls for an independent investigation will be observed closely by security agencies sensitive to unrest after the large-scale protests six years ago.

Hong Kong fire: ongoing investigation and media coverage

Police said the search of the seven towers worst damaged by the Hong Kong fire could last weeks, with officers continuing to examine every flat and shared space for remains, while forensic teams analyse renovation materials, construction records and alarm systems to support the manslaughter probe against the 13 arrested individuals.

Coverage of the Hong Kong fire has been led for Reuters by Jessie Pang, a breaking news correspondent who reports on politics and general news in Hong Kong and on breaking developments in mainland China, and who has won two SOPA Awards, a Human Rights Press Award and held an FCC Clare Hollingworth Fellowship after completing a journalism master’s degree at the University of Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong fire at Wang Fuk Court has left a death toll of at least 151, dozens still missing, criminal investigations into renovation practices, strong national security warnings and thousands of residents in temporary shelter, ensuring that questions about safety standards, accountability and public trust remain central as the city heads towards its legislative elections.