Hong Kong fire tragedy: Death toll in deadliest blaze in 80 years reaches 128; bamboo scaffolding under spotlight
PTC Web Desk: Hong Kong is reeling from its deadliest fire in almost eight decades after authorities confirmed that at least 128 persons died in a massive blaze that swept through the Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Tai Po. Rescue workers recovered more bodies on Friday as they continued combing through the charred remains of eight 32-storey towers, all of which were enveloped in bamboo scaffolding at the time of the incident.
The fire, which erupted on Wednesday, raced upward and across buildings within minutes, making it Hong Kong’s worst such disaster since a 1948 warehouse blaze that killed 176 persons.
Police officials said preliminary findings point to flammable foam boards blocking windows and other combustible cladding materials on exterior walls as major contributors to the rapid spread of flames. “We have reason to believe the decision-makers showed gross negligence,” Police Superintendent Eileen Chung stated. Investigators have seized documents, computers and phones from the company linked to the construction work.
On Friday, emergency crews forced their way into more damaged apartments while responding to unresolved distress calls. At least 25 calls for help remain unaccounted for, officials said. Several families waited at a nearby community centre, where authorities displayed photographs from inside burnt-out flats to help identify victims.
Residents described the anguish of waiting for answers. Mirra Wong, searching for her missing father, told reporters she feared the worst. Another resident looking for a friend’s wife said the uncertainty was unbearable: “Rationally, there’s no hope. But the bodies still need to be found.”
The number of missing persons has fluctuated widely, with an initial list of 279 untraced residents, though officials have yet to provide a final updated count.
The tragedy has deeply affected Hong Kong’s large migrant workforce. Advocacy groups said 19 Filipino domestic workers remain missing, while Indonesia’s consulate confirmed at least two Indonesian nationals are among the deceased.
Hong Kong is home to more than 3,68,000 domestic workers, most of them from low-income communities in the Philippines, Indonesia and South Asia. Many live inside their employers’ homes within the very towers engulfed by the blaze.
Bamboo Scaffolding under the spotlight
The inferno has reignited debate over Hong Kong’s dependence on bamboo scaffolding, a centuries-old construction technique that remains widespread due to its low cost and ease of use in tight urban spaces. Officials believe the fire originated on bamboo scaffolding attached to one tower, before strong winds carried flames indoors and towards six other connected blocks.
Hong Kong’s Development Bureau had earlier acknowledged reviewing a possible transition to metal scaffolding. While more expensive and slower to install, experts note that metal structures are significantly safer, especially in densely populated residential centres. Since 2018, accidents involving bamboo scaffolding have resulted in 23 deaths.
Govt announces relief fund
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee announced the creation of a HK$300 million (US$39 million) relief fund to support survivors and families of the victims. Several major Chinese corporations have also pledged contributions.
Authorities have yet to pinpoint the exact ignition source, but investigators believe a combination of flammable exterior materials, plastic window coverings, and bamboo scaffolding created a catastrophic chain of events.
- With inputs from agencies
