Fire tears through Hong Kong housing complex, killing at least 13 with others reported trapped

A occurrence engulfed respective high-rise residential towers successful Hong Kong’s Tai Po territory Wednesday, sidesplitting astatine slightest 13 radical and reportedly trapping others inside.

Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department said it received reports of a blaze breaking retired astatine the Wang Fuk Court successful Tai Po, a territory successful the bluish New Territories, astir 2:50 p.m.

The occurrence was upgraded to a No. 5 alarm by 6:22 p.m., the astir terrible occurrence alarm standing successful Hong Kong.

In a authorities statement, the section said 9 radical were taken to the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and the Prince of Wales Hospital.

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Flames engulf bamboo scaffolding crossed respective buildings astatine Wang Fuk Court lodging property successful Tai Po, Hong Kong, connected Nov. 26, 2025. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Four radical were pronounced dormant and 3 were successful captious condition. Another was listed arsenic serious, and 1 was stable.

Tang Ping-keung, the caput for information of Hong Kong, said 1 fireman died aft sustaining injuries portion battling the blaze.

"I americium profoundly grieved astatine the passing of Mr Ho, who mislaid his beingness successful the people of an operation. I connection my deepest condolences to his household members," Tang said.

Firefighters enactment to extinguish flames engulfing bamboo scaffolding crossed aggregate buildings astatine the Wang Fuk Court lodging property successful Tai Po, Hong Kong, connected Nov. 26, 2025. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Photos from the country showed the bamboo scaffolding of the towers engulfed successful flames and thick, acheronian fume pouring retired of aggregate floors.

Firefighters were moving to extinguish the blaze, and 1 antheral was photographed successful disposable distress, saying his woman was trapped inside.

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Wong, 71, reacts aft claiming his woman is trapped wrong Wang Fuk Court during a large occurrence successful Tai Po, Hong Kong, connected Nov. 26, 2025. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Chan Kwong-tak, an 83-year-old retiree surviving successful the community, told The South China Morning Post that the occurrence alarms failed to spell disconnected erstwhile the blaze broke out, adjacent though the buildings were equipped with them.

"If idiosyncratic was sleeping then, they were done," helium said.

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Tai Po’s erstwhile territory councillor Herman Yiu Kwan-ho besides told the outlet that residents reported not proceeding the occurrence alarms spell disconnected adjacent aft they detected the odor of smoke. He said they were lone warned erstwhile a information defender knocked connected their doors, giving them small clip to get out.

The Tai Po District Office opened impermanent shelters for radical successful request astatine the Kwong Fuk Community Hall and the Tung Cheong Street Community Hall.