A massive search-and-rescue operation continued in Hong Kong on Thursday as firefighters combed through the charred remains of multiple high-rise towers, where more than 250 residents remain unaccounted for following the city’s deadliest fire in decades. At least 55 people have been confirmed dead after flames swept through an eight-block residential complex on Wednesday.
Over 24 hours after the blaze first broke out, pockets of fire were still burning inside several units. Crews continued to douse the scorched façades of the 2,000-apartment estate as authorities launched a wide-ranging investigation into the cause of the disaster.
Early inquiries are focusing on extensive construction work surrounding the buildings, including bamboo scaffolding and plastic sheeting, which may have accelerated the spread of flames. Hong Kong’s anti-corruption agency has also opened a probe into renovation activities, while police have arrested three men accused of negligently leaving foam packaging materials at the site.
Officials confirmed that four of the burned buildings were fully extinguished by Thursday afternoon, while three remained under control. One block was untouched.
Residents reported that no fire alarm sounded when the blaze erupted, forcing neighbours to alert one another by knocking on doors.
“The fire spread incredibly fast,” said a resident surnamed Suen. “One hose trying to handle several buildings just wasn’t enough.”
The tragedy has prompted a wave of community solidarity. Volunteers gathered near the complex to provide essential supplies to displaced families and exhausted firefighters. Aid organiser Stone Ngai, 38, said the response reflected the city’s deep sense of unity.
Despite the outpouring of support, the death toll continues to rise. Fire officials reported that 51 victims died at the scene, while four others later succumbed to their injuries in hospital. A 37-year-old firefighter was among the dead.
Hospitals are treating 61 people, including 15 in critical condition and 27 seriously injured.
Hong Kong’s leader, John Lee, announced that the government will immediately inspect all housing estates undergoing major renovations. Lee said 279 people were initially listed as missing, though firefighters later reached some of them. The figure has not been formally updated.
More than 900 residents spent the night in temporary shelters, while the Indonesian consulate confirmed that two of the victims were migrant domestic workers.
Fire officials said high temperatures and dangerous debris made it impossible to reach some people who had called for help. “We will keep trying,” said deputy fire service director Derek Armstrong Chan.
Flaming debris and collapsing scaffolding added to the hazard as the fire raged through the night, casting an orange glow across the densely populated Tai Po district.
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent condolences, praising the bravery of the firefighter who died responding to the emergency.
By Thursday afternoon, some residents from neighbouring blocks were allowed to return to their homes. Volunteers distributed food, clothing and information flyers amid ongoing searches for missing loved ones.
While Hong Kong once grappled regularly with deadly fires in overcrowded districts, strengthened safety regulations have made such disasters far less common making Wednesday’s blaze one of the city’s most devastating in recent history.
