Wang Fuk Court blaze sparks outrage after fire alarms fail to activate during catastrophic multi-tower inferno
Residents of Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court say fire alarms never activated during the blaze that killed 156 people, as authorities confirm safety failures and non-compliant renovation materials.
- Fire alarms failed to activate throughout the Wang Fuk Court blaze, leaving residents without any warning as the fire spread across multiple towers.
- Non-compliant renovation materials, including polystyrene-covered windows and scaffold netting, accelerated the fire’s intensity and allowed it to jump between buildings, contributing to the high death toll of 156.
- Authorities confirm massive casualties, with many victims reduced to ash, while police and rescue teams continue dangerous search efforts expected to last up to three weeks.
HONG KONG: Anger is mounting in Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court after authorities confirmed that the estate’s fire alarms did not activate during the catastrophic blaze that has now claimed at least 156 lives.
The fire began in one tower on Wednesday afternoon before spreading with terrifying speed through the scaffolded, renovation-wrapped buildings.
By Thursday morning, seven of the estate’s eight towers were burning.
The complex had been undergoing renovation for more than a year, with bamboo scaffolding, green mesh netting, and even polystyrene-covered windows.
Officials later acknowledged that several materials used were non-compliant, accelerating the fire and enabling it to leap between towers.
Residents Say Alarm Tests Stopped After Renovation Began
Many residents say fire-safety checks had quietly ceased once the renovation project started.
Resident KC Chen said alarms used to be tested regularly, but: “Since the renovation began, I’ve never heard the fire alarm ring — not even a test.”
When the fire erupted, residents across the estate reported hearing no alarm at all, leaving them unaware of the danger until they smelled smoke or heard neighbours shouting.
Videos Show Residents Desperately Pressing a Silent Alarm
Multiple videos circulating online have intensified public outrage. In one clip, evacuees are seen pressing the fire alarm switch repeatedly, but the system remains completely unresponsive.
Another early-stage video shows flames beginning to spread as smoke thickens in the corridor — yet the alarm stays silent, forcing residents to rely on shouted warnings to alert neighbours.
Authorities later confirmed that inspections found the alarm system “unable to operate effectively” and that it did not activate at any stage.
The Buildings Department has since suspended works on 30 private projects over safety concerns.
Police officer chokes up as she reveals some victims were “reduced to ash” in Wang Fuk Court fire
At a press conference on 1 December, Tsang Shuk-yin, head of the police casualty enquiry unit, struggled to hold back tears as she said some remains had been reduced entirely to ash, warning that not all missing persons may ultimately be recovered.
Regional Commander Lam Man-han praised rescue personnel working under brutal conditions, including collapsing structures, intense heat, and heavy smoke.
She said every effort is being made to recover remains or belongings so families can have closure.
Lam expects the search and evidence-collection operation to take up to three more weeks.
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