Inferno in Hong Kong high-rises leaves 44 dead, hundreds missing

A devastating fire tore through a cluster of high-rise residential towers in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on November 26, killing at least 44 people and leaving nearly 300 residents missing, in what authorities have called the city’s most devastating fire in more than 30 years.

The blaze erupted mid-afternoon at a 32-storey apartment block undergoing renovation and swiftly engulfed seven towers in the eight-building complex. Wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and construction netting, the structures turned into towering columns of flame as strong winds accelerated the inferno across the estate.

Police have arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter, local media reported, saying the detentions are directly connected to the tragedy.

Residents flee as buildings burn, debris collapses

Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as burning scaffolding collapsed and dense smoke filled the sky. Some residents—many of them elderly—were trapped in their homes, while others fled through stairwells thick with ash.

More than 900 residents were evacuated and moved to temporary shelters. The firefighting response was massive: over 140 fire trucks and 60 ambulances were deployed as crews battled soaring temperatures and collapsing structures.

“It’s extremely dangerous,” said Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of Fire Services operations. “Debris and scaffolding are falling, and the temperature inside the buildings is very high. It’s difficult for us to enter the upper floors for rescue and firefighting.”

By late evening, the blaze had been declared a level 5 alarm, Hong Kong’s highest emergency classification, and continued burning past midnight as firefighters used ladder trucks to blast water into the upper floors.

Investigation underway as recovery continues

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee confirmed that a joint police–fire services investigation has been launched to determine what caused the rapid spread of the fire. “The blaze is coming under control,” Lee said shortly after midnight, but emergency teams continued to search for survivors.

Authorities said at least 45 people remain hospitalised, some with critical burns and smoke-related injuries.

Chinese President Xi Jinping issued condolences following the death of at least one firefighter and expressed sympathy to families of the victims, state media reported.

The building complex, constructed in the 1980s, was undergoing large-scale exterior renovation when the blaze began. Early assessments suggest the bamboo scaffolding and protective netting acted as fuel, while wind channels created between the towers accelerated the spread.

City’s worst fire disaster in a generation

The scale of devastation has drawn comparisons to the 1996 inferno in Kowloon, which killed 41 people and burned for nearly 20 hours.

For Hong Kong — a city known for its dense vertical living and stringent building codes — the tragedy has raised serious questions about renovation safety standards, emergency preparedness and the regulation of construction materials.

As search operations continue and families await news of the missing, the city stands stunned, grieving and demanding answers.