A Race Against Time as Rescuers Confront Extensive Damage

The Hong Kong tower fire, which began on Wednesday afternoon, continued to smolder through Thursday as emergency crews searched for survivors in blackened high-rise blocks that once housed thousands of residents. The fire spread with alarming speed across bamboo scaffolding and construction netting, engulfing seven of the complex’s eight towers before firefighters could bring parts of the blaze under control.

Authorities said contact had been lost with 279 people early Thursday, though officials later provided no updated tally on how many remained missing or trapped. The uncertainty complicated rescue operations, with responders forced to navigate collapsed sections, lingering smoke, and extreme heat.

Latest footage from the scene showed firefighters making their way through darkened hallways, using thermal cameras and handheld lights to search units where residents may have sheltered. Orange flames still flickered from several openings even as much of the exterior had already been reduced to charred skeletal frames.

Deputy Fire Services Director Wong Ka-wing said teams were “battling high temperatures and carefully going up floor by floor,” adding that crews “don’t rule out rescuing more injured people.” More than 70 people have been reported injured so far, including 11 firefighters.

Around 900 residents spent the night in temporary shelters after being evacuated from the complex, many of them older adults who had lived in the towers for decades.

Residents Describe Chaos as Narrow Escape Routes Filled With Smoke

Among those waiting for news of loved ones was resident Lawrence Lee, who feared his wife remained trapped inside. He said he urged her to flee when the fire broke out, but she was forced to turn back when heavy smoke blocked escape routes.

“The corridor and stairs were all filled with smoke and it was all dark,” he said at a community shelter. “She had no choice but to go back.”

Winter and Sandy Chung, residents of one of the towers, told reporters they saw sparks falling from the exterior wall as scaffolding ignited. Though they made it out safely, they said the rapid spread of fire left them shaken. “I couldn’t sleep the entire night,” said 75-year-old Winter Chung.

Pope Leo XIV offered prayers in a message sent to the city’s Catholic bishop, extending condolences to families and acknowledging the work of emergency personnel.

Authorities Arrest Construction Company Leaders on Manslaughter Suspicion

In a development that intensified public scrutiny, police on Thursday arrested three men—directors and an engineering consultant of a construction firm—involved in the ongoing renovation project. Officers alleged the men had been “grossly negligent”, though they did not directly name the company.

Police later searched the office of Prestige Construction & Engineering Company, which local media identified as the firm overseeing the renovation. Boxes of documents were seized for review. Phone calls to the company went unanswered.

Initial investigations suggest some of the materials on the towers’ exterior walls did not meet fire-resistance standards, contributing to the unusually rapid spread. Police also discovered highly flammable plastic foam panels mounted near elevator lobbies on the unaffected tower. Officials believe the panels were installed by the renovation contractor, but the purpose remains unclear.

Hong Kong’s anti-corruption commission announced it had opened a probe into possible corruption linked to the renovation project, signaling the possibility of broader regulatory and legal consequences.

Bamboo Scaffolding Tradition Faces New Scrutiny After Deadly Blaze

Authorities said the blaze began on external scaffolding of a 32-storey tower before jumping to adjacent buildings, a spread likely worsened by windy conditions. The complex, built in the 1980s, houses nearly 2,000 apartments and about 4,800 residents.

Bamboo scaffolding, long a hallmark of Hong Kong’s construction landscape, is widely used due to its flexibility and cost-effectiveness. But officials now say the material’s vulnerability to fire may require a shift in standards.

Chief Secretary Eric Chan said the government would discuss an industry-wide move toward metal scaffolding, noting bamboo’s “inferior flame retardancy.”

“We believe that a complete switch to metal scaffolding should be implemented in suitable working environments,” he said.

Authorities will also conduct immediate inspections across all major renovation sites citywide to ensure compliance with safety regulations, including material certification and structural protections.

Hong Kong’s Deadliest Fire in Decades Raises Regulatory Concerns

The tragedy marks the city’s deadliest fire in many years; the last incident of comparable scale occurred in 1996, when a commercial building blaze in Kowloon killed 41 people during a 20-hour inferno.

This week’s incident has renewed questions about oversight of construction projects, particularly in older estates undergoing modernization. Safety advocates say the combination of aging buildings, heavy renovation work, and dense population centers can create heightened risk if standards are not strictly enforced.

For now, search teams continue combing through the towers as families wait anxiously for news. The full extent of casualties may not be known for some time, given the structural instability and the scale of the damage.

Source: AP News – At least 75 dead as Hong Kong firefighters battle burning towers for a second day

The post At Least 75 Dead as Hong Kong Firefighters Battle Tower Inferno for Second Day appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

The Hong Kong high-rise fire — which began on Wednesday afternoon and rapidly engulfed parts of the Wang Fuk Court complex — triggered a city-wide response involving hundreds of firefighters, police officers and paramedics. Authorities confirmed that 279 people were reported missing as of Thursday morning, although rescue teams cautioned that the number could change as searches continue. Many of the victims were trapped inside apartments as thick smoke and extreme heat made it difficult for crews to reach upper floors.

Four of the eight towers sustained the most severe damage, and officials said the blaze remained active early Thursday, despite hours of continuous suppression efforts. The city’s Fire Services Department upgraded the incident to a level-five alarm — its highest emergency classification — shortly after nightfall, underscoring the scale of the crisis and the difficulty of the operation.

Arrests Made as Investigators Probe Suspected Safety Failures

Police arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the Hong Kong high-rise fire, saying early evidence pointed to potential negligence linked to renovation materials. The men — aged between 52 and 68 — are directors and an engineering consultant associated with the company carrying out construction work at the complex.

Senior police superintendent Eileen Chung said investigators discovered Styrofoam panels outside windows near lift lobbies, material known to be highly flammable. “We have reason to believe that those in charge of the construction company were grossly negligent,” she said.

Authorities also noted that the speed of the fire’s spread across multiple towers was unusual, prompting a review of exterior wall materials and scaffolding structures. The blaze is believed to have started on external scaffolding attached to a 32-storey building before moving inside and extending to neighbouring blocks, aided in part by windy conditions.

Hong Kong uses bamboo scaffolding extensively on construction sites — a long-standing practice common across the city’s skyline. Earlier this year, officials announced plans to gradually phase it out on public projects due to safety concerns, though it remains widespread in private renovations.

Evacuations, Extreme Heat and a Race Against Time

More than 900 residents were moved to temporary shelters as flames and smoke poured from windows across seven towers. Firefighters used ladder trucks to reach the upper floors while paramedics treated burn and inhalation injuries at the scene.

A 37-year-old firefighter was among the dead. Another crew member was treated for heat exhaustion, highlighting the intense conditions inside the buildings. “Debris and scaffolding of the affected buildings is falling down,” said deputy fire director Derek Armstrong Chan, adding that temperatures were too high for responders to move safely through stairwells.

By Thursday morning, officials reported that four buildings were “coming under control,” though access remained limited due to instability and smoke density. Many families waited outside emergency cordons for updates, while volunteers and district staff assisted evacuees with food, shelter and contact tracing.

The Wang Fuk Court complex houses nearly 4,800 residents and was constructed in the 1980s. Much of the estate has been undergoing major renovation in recent months, including the installation of new external platforming. The incident has renewed focus on high-rise fire preparedness across densely populated cities, particularly in ageing residential blocks.

Authorities Suspend Public Events as Investigation Expands

Chief Executive John Lee said the government was prioritising rescue efforts and support for affected families. All public campaign activities for the December 7 Legislative Council elections were suspended, though he did not confirm whether polling would be delayed. “We will make decisions a few days later,” Lee said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping offered condolences following the death of the firefighter and urged authorities to reduce casualties and losses, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The central government also expressed support for ongoing relief efforts.

The fire has become Hong Kong’s deadliest since 1996, when a commercial blaze in Kowloon killed 41 people and burned for nearly 20 hours. Fire safety experts noted that high-rise incidents can escalate rapidly in older buildings, especially those undergoing external repairs. Many residential towers built in the late 20th century now require significant upgrades to insulation, fireproofing and ventilation systems.

Community Grieves as Recovery Efforts Continue

Residents described watching flames climb the buildings with alarming speed. One woman identified only by her surname, Wu, told local broadcaster TVB: “I’ve given up thinking about my property. Watching it burn like that was really frustrating.”

Temporary shelters have been opened in Tai Po, a suburban district in Hong Kong’s New Territories near the border with Shenzhen. The area is home to many older residents, and local representatives said additional support services would be arranged for displaced households.

Authorities deployed more than 200 fire vehicles and around 100 ambulances to the scene. Emergency hotlines received an overwhelming volume of calls, including reports from trapped residents using mobile phones to alert responders from upper floors. Fire officials said they would continue rescue and recovery operations until every accessible area had been searched.

While the full impact of the Hong Kong high-rise fire is still emerging, officials warned that the number of missing may fluctuate as teams verify reports and cross-check resident records. Structural engineers will assess the buildings once the fire is fully extinguished, and a formal inquiry is expected to examine safety compliance, contractor responsibilities and renovation oversight.

The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of sympathy across the city, with community groups and charities preparing longer-term support for residents who may have lost homes and belongings. Authorities said counselling services would be made available in the coming days, and financial assistance programs would be activated for those affected.

Source: AP News – 3 arrested in Hong Kong, as a high-rise fire leaves at least 44 dead and 279 reported missing

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