Ferocious Blaze in Hong Kong leaves at least 44 dead

South China Morning POst ^ | 11/27/25 | Staff

[Fai Mao]

This story has been made freely available as a public service to our readers. Please consider supporting SCMP’s journalism by subscribing. What we know so far:

44 people, including a firefighter, have died. Some 279 are still missing

Among those hospitalised, 45 are in serious condition

The eight residential blocks in the estate had been undergoing renovations since July 2024, sheathed in bamboo scaffolding and green mesh

Authorities say the rapid spread of fire was “unusual”, with styrofoam material found in buildings

Government will launch investigations, including criminal probes, to find cause of deadly blaze

Blazes in three of the seven buildings were brought under control by early morning, after nearly 10 hours. Four more are still engulfed in flames

Chief Executive John Lee has described the fire as a “massive catastrophe”

900 people are seeking refuge in community halls

Electioneering activities have been suspended ahead of December 7 election

Lee says he will review if there is a need to postpone the election

Forty-four people have been killed and 279 others are missing after a ferocious blaze ravaged a housing estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po neighbourhood, with scorching flames ripping through bamboo scaffolding on seven residential blocks.

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TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: ccp; death; fire; hongkong

[Fai Mao]

The official death toll is now over 50, but I don't have much hope for those who are missing.

This is the best synopsis of the events I've seen

[butlerweave]

Did the communists build this death trap ?

[PGR88]

I know Hong Kong very well, and have certainly seen the bamboo scaffolding and the dense high-rise buildings

But even in Hong Kong’s relative dry season (which it is now) - I just can’t see how this spread to 4 (!) buildings.

What a tragedy,

[Bobbyvotes]

Recovering from severe burns is simply awful. Infections set in without protection of skin, the pain and itching is unbearable. Out cook died from catching clothes on fire, it was horrible to watch her die after 10 days.

[fidelis]

Recovering from severe burns is simply awful. Infections set in without protection of skin, the pain and itching is unbearable. Out cook died from catching clothes on fire, it was horrible to watch her die after 10 days.

In building fires, relatively few of the injuries and fatalities are due to being in contact with flames. If they are trapped in the building, they die from smoke inhalation before the flames get to them. In a high rise situation, others will die if the building or parts of it collapse. Many people in the 9/11 conflagrations died when they jumped out of the windows from several stories up trying to escape.

[telescope115]

I understand that some people have been arrested and charged with manslaughter.

[Fai Mao]

“Did the communists build this death trap ?”

The building is about 40 years old, so no, the British did.

[dfwgator]

The building is about 40 years old, so no, the British did.

Those darn Freemason architects!

[Fai Mao]

“In building fires, relatively few of the injuries and fatalities are due to being in contact with flames. If they are trapped in the building, they die from smoke inhalation before the flames get to them. “

The article says that large amounts of styrofoam were in the building to protect the windows from the renovation. That smoke is poisonous, not simply noxious

[BradyLS]

Sounds like some weird, “Chinese 9-11”-type shenanigans. All the buildings surrounded by bamboo scaffolding, full of styrofoam, and people living in them? Then it all goes up in flames? Maybe an insurance scam…?

[fidelis]

The article says that large amounts of styrofoam were in the building to protect the windows from the renovation. That smoke is poisonous, not simply noxious

Yes, that is a strong factor too. In previous generations, when houses were made and filled with mostly materials made of wood and stone, this was less of a factor. But now, practically all of our living spaces are made of artificial materials and full of chemicals (like formaldehyde), including our furniture and the buildings themselves. In a fire, as these materials are heated and burn, those chemicals are released in the air as noxious vapors. The fie itself aside, it is much more hazardous to be in a structure fire than in past generations.

[Feckless]

Not sure if it’s same in HK as South Korea but I’d bet 20,000 ₩ it is. You see big, multi-story apartment building and the roof is filled with Propane bottles of all sizes with hundred foot hoses running down the side and into every apartment through a window.

[SunkenCiv]

• 36 people confirmed dead, 279 people missing in massive Hong Kong fire that has consumed multiple skyscrapers [11/26/2025]
• Hong Kong high rise fire kills 14 as blaze rips through multiple towers in Tai Po [11/26/2025]
• Same contractor? China opens the world's first flying car factory [11/26/2025]

[TexasFreeper2009]

supposedly the exteriors were covered in some sort of flammable material.

I can’t imagine.

[exPBRrat]

Fires can happen anywhere at any time.,R.I.P. to all the victims.

[Fai Mao]

A lot of kitchens have have 40lb propane tanks in Hk.