A massive blaze that ripped through a residential complex in Hong Kong has become the city’s deadliest fire in 77 years, killing at least 65 people and leaving more than 300 missing. The fire, which authorities say began in bamboo scaffolding and construction netting, spread rapidly across the Wang Fuk Court towers in Tai Po, raising serious questions about building safety standards, regulatory oversight, and contractor negligence.

The inferno, classified as a Grade 5 fire, has continued for more than 20 hours, engulfing seven of the eight towers in the estate where nearly 4,600 residents lived. The scale of destruction has shocked Hong Kong and triggered widespread criticism of oversight failures and the use of unsafe construction materials.

How the fire started and spread so quickly

Initial investigations indicate that the blaze ignited in the bamboo scaffolding erected for renovation work at the residential complex. The flames then spread to the plastic construction mesh and protective covering installed along the building exterior.

Officials have stated that some of these materials did not meet fire safety standards. The substandard mesh and plastic burned faster and more intensely than approved alternatives, allowing the fire to race upwards and across multiple towers in minutes.

Security Secretary Chris Tang said that the external netting and sheeting behaved in a way that compliant materials would not, intensifying the fire’s speed and heat.

Authorities also discovered that windows on parts of the building were sealed with foam, allegedly installed by a construction company involved in the renovation. This foam may have acted as additional fuel and impeded natural ventilation.

A failure of oversight and possible criminal negligence

Wang Fuk Court, constructed as government-subsidised housing in the 1980s, was undergoing large-scale repairs at the time of the incident. Police officials believe that the engineering firm responsible for the renovation work used unsafe materials and ignored safety protocols.

Police Superintendent Eileen Chung said there was reason to believe that “gross negligence” by individuals overseeing the repairs directly led to the uncontrollable spread of the fire.

Authorities have arrested two company directors and an engineering consultant on suspicion of manslaughter. Investigators are examining procurement records, installation practices, and the firm’s compliance with safety guidelines.

How residents experienced the disaster

The fire reportedly began at 2:50 pm local time on Wednesday. By nightfall, several towers were still ablaze, sending thick plumes of smoke across the New Territories. Emergency workers struggled to contain the flames while battling intense heat, falling debris, and high winds.

Residents described a chaotic evacuation, with some reporting malfunctioning fire alarms and a lack of clear communication. Hundreds were shifted to temporary shelters as search teams continued to look for missing persons.

The tragedy has renewed concerns about the widespread use of bamboo scaffolding in Hong Kong, a traditional yet highly flammable construction technique that has long been debated for safety risks in dense residential areas.

Historical context of deadly fires in Hong Kong

The Wang Fuk Court blaze is the deadliest since 1948, when 176 people were killed in a warehouse fire. It has surpassed the 1996 Kowloon commercial building fire, which left 41 people dead after burning for nearly a full day.

Despite modern fire codes and stricter enforcement, the latest disaster has exposed major gaps in oversight, especially during ongoing repairs in ageing housing estates.

Government response and next steps

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee expressed deep concern over the tragedy and announced the formation of a task force to investigate the incident in detail. The government plans to inspect all housing estates currently under major renovation to ensure scaffolding materials, protective netting, and external coverings meet fire safety standards.

Authorities will also assess safety procedures followed by contractors and whether systemic vulnerabilities contributed to the scale of damage.

Residents, meanwhile, are demanding accountability for what they describe as preventable deaths caused by oversight failures and substandard construction practices.