HONG KONG, China: A fierce blaze tore through the Wang Fuk Court public housing complex in the Tai Po district of Hong Kong on Wednesday afternoon, killing at least 55 people and leaving hundreds unaccounted for as rescue teams continued searches into Thursday.
The fire, which raged for more than 24 hours, has been described by the city’s leader as an “unprecedented catastrophe.”
The inferno began at about 14:51 local time (06:51 GMT) and quickly escalated, sweeping across linked tower blocks in the 31-storey Wang Fuk Court estate.
The complex contains roughly 1,900 to 2,000 flats and is home to about 4,600 residents, many of them elderly.
Thick smoke, intense heat and collapsing scaffolding hampered rescue teams and made upper floors hard to reach. Officials warned that the death toll could rise.
Arrests and allegations of negligence
Police have arrested three men from a construction company on suspicion of manslaughter, local authorities stated. Authorities allege “gross negligence” in renovation works that allowed the blaze to spread rapidly.
Investigators told reporters they found flammable materials on the exterior of the buildings, including plastic sheeting and foam used to seal windows, and that the scaffolding and mesh covering may not have been fire-resistant.
The arrests came as the government opened a criminal investigation and vowed inspections of other public housing undergoing major maintenance.
Rescue effort and human cost
More than 800 firefighters, scores of ambulances and over 100 fire engines were deployed as crews battled the flames and searched for survivors. Drones were used to locate people trapped in the towers.
At least one firefighter, identified by authorities, died in the operation and others were hospitalised.
Hundreds of residents were evacuated to emergency shelters, and authorities set up hotlines and support centres for relatives searching for missing family members.
Possible factors in rapid spread
Officials and experts say the blaze appears to have raced up facades covered in scaffolding, mesh netting and plastic sheeting used during renovation work.
Police have pointed to styrofoam and other non-fireproof materials found on window seals as probable contributors to the speed of spread.
Engineers and safety specialists have raised concerns that much of the mesh used on Hong Kong renovation projects is not fire-retardant, and that bamboo scaffolding and debris can feed flames in strong winds.
Comparisons to London’s Grenfell Tower fire
The scale of the disaster has provoked public anger and drawn comparisons with the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire in London.
Critics say the incident highlights gaps in safety enforcement and the risks posed when maintenance uses cheap or inappropriate materials.
The government said it would inspect other public housing undergoing major renovation and pledged an urgent review of safety practices.
Hong Kong’s chief executive and China’s leadership expressed condolences and called for “all-out” efforts to minimise further casualties.
Authorities closed nearby roads and suspended classes at several schools while structural assessments and searches continued.
Police said investigators were probing the conduct of those responsible for the renovation works and examining whether regulations were breached.
The three arrests focus on directors and an engineering consultant connected to the maintenance project. Officials warned that conclusions on the exact cause would await a full technical and criminal inquiry.
