Scaffolding, Mesh or Foam: What Sparked Hong Kong’s Deadliest Fire in 77 Years, Killing 65

A massive fire in a Hong Kong high-rise has claimed at least 65 lives, while more than 300 people remain unaccounted for as the blaze continues to burn.

The inferno at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po — the deadliest in 77 years — has raised serious questions about possible official negligence, inadequate safety measures, and the city’s planning standards.

Firefighters have been battling the flames for more than 20 hours. The fire, which started in bamboo scaffolding and ripped through the complex’s protective netting, spread across seven of the eight residential towers housing around 4,600 people. Rescue teams are still searching for dozens who remain missing.

Why was the fire so devastating?

Classified as a Grade 5 blaze, Hong Kong’s most severe category, the incident is the city’s worst since a 1996 commercial-building fire in Kowloon that killed 41 people. The deadliest on record remains a 1948 warehouse fire that claimed 176 lives.

Authorities say the Wang Fuk Court blaze began in the bamboo scaffolding and construction netting before engulfing the building exteriors. Investigators believe substandard protective mesh and plastic sheeting — which failed to meet fire-safety requirements — may have fuelled the rapid spread. Police also discovered that some windows on an initially unaffected block had been sealed with foam material installed by a maintenance contractor.

“Protective netting, fire-resistant cloth and plastic sheeting on the exterior of the building burned far more intensely and spread much faster than compliant materials normally would,” Secretary for Security Chris Tang said, according to Bloomberg.

The 1980s-era housing complex, which includes nearly 2,000 units, was undergoing major renovation at the time of the fire. Police said they have “reason to believe” that gross negligence by the construction company contributed to the scale of the disaster. Two directors and an engineering consultant have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

Anger, criticism and despair

Authorities said the fire broke out at 2:50 p.m. on Wednesday. A day later, three towers were still burning, with dramatic visuals showing flames shooting up building facades and thick smoke billowing into the night sky. Hundreds of residents were evacuated to temporary shelters as emergency crews continued rescue operations amidst mounting public anger.