Deadly Tai Po residential building fire claims 44 lives, hundreds missing in Hong Kong
Summary
A catastrophic No. 5 alarm blaze swept through Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po on 26 November 2025. At least 44 people have died — including one firefighter — 279 are reported missing and 17 are in critical condition. The fire rapidly engulfed seven of eight residential blocks after first being reported at 2:51pm.
Chief Executive John Lee activated the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre, offered condolences and pledged full government support for affected residents. Police set up a casualty hotline (1878 999). The Home Affairs, District Offices and Social Welfare Department established help desks and temporary shelters, while the Hospital Authority triggered emergency mechanisms for urgent care. The Education Bureau has suspended classes at at least 13 schools near the incident. Transport authorities warned of major traffic disruption and 39 daytime bus routes have been diverted.
Key Points
- Death toll stands at a minimum of 44, including one firefighter; 279 people remain missing and 17 are critically injured.
- The blaze escalated quickly: reported at 2:51pm and raised to a No. 5 alarm by 6:22pm after engulfing most of the estate.
- Hong Kong government activated an emergency centre and interdepartmental support for displaced residents, including shelters and emotional/practical assistance.
- Casualty hotline (1878 999) established; Hospital Authority invoked emergency procedures for the injured.
- Education Bureau suspended classes at 13 affected schools; Transport Department warned of heavy traffic and bus route diversions.
- Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended condolences and called for decisive efforts to extinguish the fire and reduce casualties.
Why should I read this?
Short version: this is a major, tragic event that’s still unfolding. If you have people, operations or partners in Hong Kong — or simply follow regional stability and emergency-response issues — you should know the basics fast. We’ve pulled the key facts so you don’t have to wade through multiple updates.
Context and Relevance
The scale and speed of the Wang Fuk Court fire, the high number of missing residents and the involvement of frontline emergency services make this a significant public-safety and community-relief story. For employers and HR teams, the incident has immediate implications: staff welfare, potential workplace disruption, transport and school closures, and the need to coordinate support for affected employees and their families.