HONG KONG — Public shock has hardened into anger across Hong Kong and beyond after a catastrophic fire tore through Wang Fuk Court, a subsidized housing complex in the Tai Po district, killing at least 94 people and leaving dozens critically injured, according to local authorities. Nearly 300 residents remain unaccounted for, making it the deadliest blaze in the city in more than six decades.
Substandard Materials and Silent Alarms Intensify Scrutiny
Officials say the fire likely spread rapidly due to flammable plastic sheets, mesh netting, and bamboo scaffoldingused during ongoing renovation works. Residents reported that fire alarms never sounded, raising concerns that safety systems were disabled during construction.
Kiko Ma, a homeowner now living in Canada, told the BBC that the alarms had been switched off by workers and that materials used were “poor quality” and “flammable.” Other residents described seeing workers smoking on scaffolding, leaving cigarette butts scattered along window ledges.
Authorities have arrested three renovation supervisors on suspicion of manslaughter and launched a corruption inquiry, echoing calls circulating on Chinese and global social media, where a viral post declared: “It’s not an accident.”
A Deadly Echo of Past Warnings
The blaze engulfed seven of the estate’s eight 31-storey towers, raising alarms about systemic safety vulnerabilities in one of the world’s most densely populated housing markets. Built in the 1980s and home to roughly 4,600 residents — 40% of them elderly, Wang Fuk Court had long been viewed as at-risk.
International observers, including analysts in the U.K. and Japan, drew parallels to other high-rise disasters involving combustible cladding or scaffolding, such as London’s Grenfell Tower in 2017, sparking renewed debate over global construction safety standards. Mainland Chinese outlets, including People’s Daily, emphasized the need for tighter oversight of renovation projects and the dangers of overreliance on bamboo scaffolding, still widely used across Hong Kong despite its well-documented combustibility.
Earlier this year, Hong Kong authorities announced plans to replace bamboo with fire-resistant steel, though implementation has been slow — a delay now under renewed international scrutiny.
Residents Say Warnings Were Ignored
Tensions within the estate had been simmering for months. Several homeowners claimed renovation plans were “opaque” and “fundamentally shady,” alleging that contractors encouraged elderly residents to approve upgrades with small gifts. Efforts by some residents to replace the estate’s management committee reportedly went nowhere.
Mr. Lai, a resident interviewed by the BBC, said firms often prioritized “cost efficiency over safety,” noting similar recent fire incidents involving bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong’s Central district.
Growing Domestic and International Pressure on Authorities
The Hong Kong government has ordered citywide inspections of all housing estates undergoing major repairs, with a focus on scaffolding integrity and fire-safety compliance. International safety organizations, including the U.S.-based National Fire Protection Association, urged local authorities to accelerate reforms and conduct independent reviews.
Chinese state media called for an “uncompromising investigation,” while Canadian and British officials expressed condolences and requested updates concerning their citizens living in the affected towers.
Families Await Answers
As emergency teams continue searching the charred towers and shelters fill with displaced residents, families are demanding accountability. For many Hong Kongers, the tragedy has become a symbol of deeper structural failures in housing governance and construction oversight.
“People kept asking what would happen if there was a fire,” Ms. Ma said. “Everyone was worried. This was preventable.” (zai)