Authorities announced they have completed firefighting and rescue operations at the devastated Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po, following Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades.

As of today, the official death toll stands at at least 94, while hundreds of residents remain missing and many families continue searching for loved ones.

The complex blaze — which began on November 26 — consumed multiple residential towers, tragically claiming the lives of residents and first-responders alike; among those killed was a firefighter.

According to official reports, the fire ignited on bamboo scaffolding and green netting that enveloped buildings undergoing renovation. From there, flames rapidly spread to seven of the complex’s towers.

Authorities confirmed that many of the exterior materials — including plastic mesh, waterproof sheeting, and foam-sealed windows — may have failed to meet fire-safety standards. These flammable materials are believed to have contributed significantly to the fire’s explosive spread.

Rescue operations were massive and sustained: more than 1,250 firefighters, dozens of fire engines, ambulances, and 26 search-and-rescue teams were mobilized. As of this morning, the fire department says all towers have been searched, and remaining smoldering spots extinguished.

In a major development, police have arrested three senior figures in the construction company responsible for the building’s renovation — two company directors and one engineering consultant — on suspicion of manslaughter. Authorities say the suspects are being investigated for “gross negligence,” given that the materials used apparently did not meet required fire-resistance standards.

Officials also searched the firm’s offices and confiscated documents and equipment as potential evidence; meanwhile, Hong Kong’s anti-corruption body has launched a separate investigation into possible misconduct during the renovation process.

The fire left roughly 900 residents displaced. Many now shelter in emergency accommodations, malls, and restaurants, as official shelter capacity remains limited.

At the same time, the number of missing persons remains alarmingly high — as many as 279 people were unaccounted for as of the latest update. Families continue to gather at community-centre “identification hubs” to search for missing friends and relatives.

The tragedy has provoked strong public anger and deep concern across Hong Kong. Many point to long-standing problems with construction safety standards, the widespread — though increasingly deprecated — use of bamboo scaffolding, and lax enforcement. Some commentators are already drawing parallels to the 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster in London.

In response, the local government has pledged HK$300 million in relief funds. Meanwhile, authorities announced city-wide inspections of all public housing estates currently under renovation, with a view to forbidding further use of unsafe scaffolding or cladding materials.

Public safety experts and fire-safety advocates warn that this catastrophe may mark a critical inflection point in Hong Kong’s approach to building safety. The combination of flammable renovation materials, outdated bamboo scaffolding practices, and insufficient regulation/enforcement has now resulted in one of the worst housing disasters in the city’s history.

Local authorities say they intend to fast-track reforms — possibly accelerating removal of bamboo scaffolding from all renovation sites, mandating fire-resistant materials, and increasing mandatory safety inspections. Many residents and victims’ families, however, demand accountability and transparency.

As the city enters the recovery phase, with mourning and damage assessments ongoing, the fire at Wang Fuk Court serves as a grim warning: cost-cutting shortcuts in renovation and building maintenance can have catastrophic human consequences. (ILKHA)