Britain's King Charles sends condolences for 'appalling tragedy' as two hundred still missing, search and rescue ends - November 29, 2025
128 confirmed dead, hundreds displaced as authorities investigate renovation failures and possible corruption
HONG KONG stood in solemn mourning on Saturday following the catastrophic fire at Wang Fuk Court, a high-rise apartment complex in Tai Po, which has so far claimed 128 lives with around 200 residents still unaccounted for.
The disaster, the deadliest in the city since 1948, has left the community and authorities grappling with shock, grief, and urgent questions over building safety and regulatory oversight.
Reuters reported authorities have arrested 11 individuals in connection with the blaze, including directors and engineering consultants, as investigations focus on the use of unsafe materials and possible corruption during renovations at the complex.
“We are looking into whether flammable materials and unsafe renovation practices contributed to this tragedy,” said a spokesperson from Hong Kong’s anti-graft agency.
The fire, which began on Wednesday afternoon, quickly consumed seven of the eight 32-storey blocks at Wang Fuk Court, which were sheathed in bamboo scaffolding, green mesh, and foam insulation for ongoing maintenance work.
Reports indicate that the estate’s fire alarms were not functioning properly at the time, compounding the disaster for more than 4,600 residents.
Rescue operations formally concluded on Friday, though police warned that additional bodies may yet be discovered within the charred remains.
Only 39 of the 128 confirmed dead have been formally identified. Disaster victim identification teams, clad in white overalls, helmets, and oxygen masks, continued combing the site, navigating fallen scaffolding and flooded interiors left by firefighting efforts.
Mourning has permeated the city. Hong Kong leader John Lee, alongside government officials and civil servants, observed a three-minute silence outside central government offices, with flags lowered to half-mast.
Condolence books have been made available at 18 locations across the city, while hundreds of volunteers have mobilised to support displaced residents, distributing essential supplies and operating relief camps near the complex.
International sympathy has poured in. Britain’s King Charles expressed condolences, stating, “Our most heartfelt thoughts are with all those who have lost loved ones and with those that are now living with shock and uncertainty.”
The tragedy has also spotlighted the plight of domestic workers in Hong Kong, many of whom live in cramped conditions with their employers.
At least two of the deceased were Indonesian nationals, and 19 Filipino workers remain missing, according to migrant support group Bethune House.
Hong Kong hosts roughly 368,000 domestic workers, predominantly women from low-income Asian countries.
Concerns over fire safety at Wang Fuk Court had been raised repeatedly by residents throughout 2024.
The city’s Labour Department confirmed that in September last year, tenants highlighted the potential flammability of the green protective mesh covering the bamboo scaffolding.
Despite assurances from authorities of “relatively low fire risks,” the renovation materials and safety practices have now come under scrutiny as investigators seek accountability.
The calamity has drawn comparisons to London’s Grenfell Tower fire of 2017, which killed 72 people, and underscores longstanding challenges in urban safety, emergency preparedness, and oversight of renovation practices in high-density housing.
Hong Kong authorities have announced a HK$300 million ($40 million) relief fund to assist affected residents, while some of China’s largest publicly listed companies have pledged additional donations.
As the city mourns, families continue to search for missing loved ones, leaving a community united in grief and the urgent pursuit of justice and safety reform. - November 29, 2025
Hong Kong fire, Wang Fuk Court, domestic workers, building safety, disaster response, public mourning
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