Fire tragedy at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court: death toll rises to 151 as probe reveals safety violations

Authorities have confirmed that 151 people have died in the Wang Fuk Court fire in Tai Po, Hong Kong, marking one of the deadliest residential fires in the region in recent history.

As of 1 December, 104 of the deceased have been formally identified, while 39 sets of remains are still pending identification.

The Hong Kong Police and Fire Services Department have continued search operations at seven residential blocks in the Wang Fuk Court estate. Five buildings—Hung Yan, Hung To, Hung Kin, Hung Tai, and Hung Shing—have been fully searched over the past two days, according to Police New Territories North Commander Lam Man-han.

Two additional blocks—Hung Cheong and Hung Sun—are currently being searched, though structural safety concerns have limited access to some units.

Chief Superintendent Tsang Suk-yin, head of the Police Casualty Enquiry Centre, reported tearfully that eight more bodies were discovered in Hung Cheong Court. Five of these were newly found, and some had been burned to ashes, making identification particularly challenging.

No additional remains were found in Hung Sun Court. The bodies were located across units, corridors, and stairwells. However, Tsang cautioned that more victims may still be discovered, especially as searches continue in units that were previously unsafe to enter.

All recovered remains, whether partial or complete, will be photographed and catalogued in albums to assist families in identification. Four cases of suspected missing construction workers have been reported via a hotline. Two have since been confirmed deceased, one is hospitalised, and one remains missing.

Authorities expressed their condolences and reaffirmed their commitment to recovering all remains and identifiable personal belongings. “Our only goal is to help victims return to their names, and help families say goodbye,” said Tsang.

Police expect the search and evidence-gathering process to take up to three more weeks, with efforts continuing across departments to support bereaved families.

Investigation uncovers fire safety violations and corruption

The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has arrested 14 people, including 11 by ICAC and the police, over allegations that non-fire-resistant safety nets were used in construction at Wang Fuk Court.

According to ICAC Commissioner Woo Ying-ming, following damage from a typhoon in July, those involved sourced 2,300 rolls of safety netting from local suppliers at HK$54 per roll. These nets failed to meet fire resistance standards but were used across all eight buildings in the estate.

In October, after a separate fire involving scaffolding occurred in Central, suspects feared inspections and purchased an additional 115 rolls of compliant netting at HK$100 per roll. These compliant nets were installed at the base of scaffolding to deceive inspectors, who later approved the structures.

The Secretary for Security, Tang Ping-keung, confirmed that fire investigators had retrieved 20 samples of scaffolding netting from various points across four towers—Hung Tai, Hung Chi, Hung To, and Hung Yan. Of these, seven samples failed the fire resistance test.

Tang added that the probability of finding substandard netting was higher in hard-to-reach locations, including those accessed only by firefighters during rescue operations. Investigators believe that the fire spread rapidly due to the presence of flammable nets and polystyrene panels, which also caused window glass to shatter, allowing the fire to penetrate building interiors.

Victims, relief efforts, and ongoing support

As of the morning of 1 December, 79 injured people had been treated in hospital. Twelve remain in critical condition, six are serious, 25 are stable, and 36 have been discharged. The Fire Services Department also confirmed that all 12 injured firefighters have now been discharged from hospital.

The Consulates General of the Philippines and Indonesia have reported casualties among their nationals. The Philippine mission confirmed one domestic worker has died, with one injured and two missing. The Indonesian Consulate confirmed nine deaths, with 36 still unaccounted for.

A mourning ritual was held near the estate, where grieving family members laid offerings and photographs at an altar set up outside the buildings. Buddhist priests led the ceremony, accompanied by chanting and incense burning. Police cordoned off the area to ensure order.

Social tensions have escalated alongside public demands for transparency and accountability following the Wang Fuk Court fire. On 30 November, the Police National Security Department arrested three individuals in connection with online and on-site activities related to the tragedy.

Among those detained was Chinese University student Miles Kwan (Kwan Ching-fung), who had posted a list of four demands calling for government accountability. He was arrested on suspicion of incitement and later released on bail.

Former district councillor Cheung Kam-hung was arrested at his residence in Fanling around 7 pm. According to local media including HK01, Cheung is suspected of “inciting hatred against the government”.

In a separate case, a female volunteer, surnamed Li, who had been assisting victims at the fire site, was also taken into custody. She is alleged to have discouraged survivors from sharing personal information with unfamiliar individuals.

Government assistance and political response

Deputy Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Leung Hung-ching, stated that as of the night of 30 November, 1,760 households had received S$10,000 in emergency aid. Temporary accommodations have been provided to 2,100 individuals through youth hostels, transitional housing, and hotels.

Longer-term housing plans are underway, with 2,000 transitional housing units identified and an additional 1,000 short-term units available. The government is also promoting its “one social worker per household” initiative, urging residents to register through the 182 183 hotline. This mechanism will assist with applications for a S$50,000 living subsidy and S$200,000 condolence payment.

Separately, the Education Bureau has announced that schools affected by the fire are gradually resuming classes. Some are still conducting online lessons while assessing their physical facilities.

District councillor and former advisor to the building’s owners’ corporation, Wong Bik-kiu of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), has issued a statement calling for a police and ICAC investigation into whether the current corporation failed in its duties, particularly regarding long-standing neglect of fire safety systems. The maintenance project for Wang Fuk Court had previously been approved with a budget of HK$330 million.