Death toll from Wang Fuk Court fire rises to 146 as Hong Kong enters mourning period

Hong Kong is in official mourning as the death toll from the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po rose to 146 on Sunday (30 Nov).

Eighteen additional bodies were discovered by the police disaster victim identification unit (DVIU) on the fifth day since the fire broke out.

The previous toll of 128 had remained unchanged until Saturday, 30 November.

National and Hong Kong flags at all government facilities, including overseas offices, are being flown at half-mast until Monday, 2 December, as part of a three-day mourning period.

Authorities have warned the number of confirmed dead could still rise as search operations continue in difficult conditions.

Chief Superintendent Karen Tsang Shuk-yin, who leads the casualty inquiry unit, stated that officers are racing against time and that 54 bodies remain unidentified.

The fire, first reported at 2.51pm on Wednesday, 27 November, rapidly escalated into a No 5 alarm blaze—the most severe classification.

Dark smoke and intense flames quickly engulfed seven of the estate’s eight residential blocks.

According to Cheng Ka-chun, head of the DVIU, bodies were found in flats, stairwells, corridors, and rooftops. Search efforts have been hindered by poor lighting, structural hazards, and widespread damage.

To date, DVIU teams have completed searches at Wang Yan House, Wang Dao House, Wang Kin House, and Wang Tai House. Work is ongoing at Wang Shing House.

Cheng emphasised that searches intensify during daylight hours to maximise visibility and efficiency.

Lam Man-han, regional commander for New Territories North, estimated that recovery and identification operations could take three to four more weeks.

She confirmed that three buildings were fully searched on Saturday and two more completed on Sunday. The remaining buildings present more complex challenges.

Superintendent Cheng noted that the interiors are severely damaged, with sharp debris and unstable elements complicating access.

Over 600 DVIU officers and support teams are involved in the round-the-clock operation. Cheng acknowledged their tireless efforts and expressed hope that victims' identities can be confirmed quickly to ease family concerns.

Regarding the physical condition of the buildings, Leung Hung-wai, deputy director of development and construction at the Housing Department, said preliminary surveys of six out of the eight buildings revealed no immediate structural integrity issues.

However, several flats have been severely damaged, and reinforcement works are underway to facilitate evidence collection.

One building—Wang Chi House—remains untouched by the fire, but reopening it has not been considered yet due to surrounding hazards, including falling debris.

Lam stated that the estate will not be reopened until all dangerous elements are removed and police investigations are concluded.

As of Sunday, approximately 1,827 residents displaced by the fire have moved into temporary accommodation.

According to Deputy Financial Secretary Wong, 683 residents are housed in hotels and youth hostels, while the remaining 1,144 have been placed in transitional housing or units operated by the Hong Kong Housing Society.

Two temporary shelters also remain open to support those in urgent need.

Wong announced on social media that the total pool of long-term housing has expanded to 2,000 units, up from the 1,800 previously announced. He encouraged residents to contact social workers for settlement assistance.

In addition to housing support, the government’s emergency support fund has grown to HK$1.2 billion (US$153 million), including HK$900 million in public donations and HK$300 million in government contributions.

As of Sunday afternoon, over 1,900 households have registered for the HK$10,000 emergency cash subsidy, and 1,420 families have received their payments.

From Monday, 2 December, each family of the deceased will receive HK$200,000 in condolence payments, while an additional HK$50,000 in living allowances will be distributed per family.

The criminal investigation into the origins of the fire remains ongoing, but authorities have yet to release further information due to the complexity of the evidence collection process.

The city continues to grieve the loss of life in what is now Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades. Tributes and prayers were observed across the city on Sunday, from the disaster site in Tai Po to Central and various public halls.

Mourners laid flowers and left handwritten notes, with many expressing sorrow and solidarity as authorities persist in their efforts to bring closure to the affected families.