Hong Kong Fire: Death Toll Hits 55, Many Still Missing, 3 Arrested for Manslaughter Over Flammable Materials

The death toll from the catastrophic fire that engulfed multiple high-rise towers in Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court has tragically risen to 55, with 279 people still reported missing.

November 27, 2025: Hong Kong is reeling from its deadliest fire in decades, which ripped through multiple residential blocks in the Wang Fuk Court complex in the Tai Po district after breaking out on Wednesday.

Chinese official media reported on Thursday that the death toll has climbed to 55, with 279 residents still unaccounted for as search and rescue operations continue for a second day amid high temperatures and debris. At least 68 people have been hospitalized, with 16 in critical condition and 25 deemed serious.

Police Blame ‘Gross Negligence’

Hong Kong police announced the arrest of three men—two company directors and a project consultant—aged between 52 and 68, on suspicion of manslaughter. The men were executives of the construction company responsible for the renovation work on the buildings.

Police investigation strongly suggests that the materials used during the renovation of the high-rise blocks were key factors in the unprecedented speed and spread of the blaze:

Flammable Foam: Polyurethane foam, a highly flammable material, was found to have been used to seal windows of elevator lobbies in an unaffected building in the residential area. Investigators believe this material caused the fire to spread rapidly across multiple floors.
Non-Compliant Scaffolding: Protective nets, waterproof canvas, and plastic cloth covering the buildings as part of the renovation are suspected of falling short of fireproof standards, allowing the fire to quickly engulf the exterior structures, including the bamboo scaffolding.

“We have reason to believe that those in charge of the construction company were grossly negligent,” a senior police official was quoted as saying, adding that their actions caused the heavy casualties.

President Xi Directs All-Out Effort

The tragedy drew immediate attention from Beijing. Chinese President Xi Jinping extended his condolences late Wednesday night and issued a directive to authorities.

President Xi immediately sought updates on the rescue and instructed the director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR to convey his sympathies to Chief Executive John Lee. He further directed central government offices to support the HKSAR government in making “all-out efforts to put out the fire, do everything possible in search and rescue, treat the injured, and comfort the victims’ families.”