The death toll from the Hong Kong fire rises to 146 as thousands pay tribute to the victims

People pray in front of flowers placed on the ground in honor of the fire victims.

- author, Hafsa Khalil
- scroll, BBC News
30 November 2025, 10:46 -03

Updated 16 minutes ago

The police reported the updated number of victims at a press conference on Sunday (30/11), warning that “the possibility of further deaths cannot be ruled out.”

Another 79 people were injured and 150 are still missing, according to authorities.

Seven of the eight residential buildings located in the Tai Po area in northern Hong Kong caught fire on Wednesday (26/11).

The possibility of the fire spreading quickly due to the presence of flammable materials used in the restoration work to which the complex was undergoing, such as plastic sheets and polystyrene, sparked anger and concern among the residents.

Thousands of people gathered in the Wang Fuc Court area on Sunday to honor the victims, and lines stretched for nearly two kilometres.

Handwritten greetings on pieces of white paper. — Image caption, Handwritten notes were among the tributes paid to the victims

A nighttime photo shows three residential towers on fire. — Image caption, The fire gutted seven of the eight buildings in the complex

The death toll has risen since the outbreak of the fire, while authorities are working to recover the bodies and determine their identities.

The exact cause of the accident has not yet been determined. Eight people were arrested on suspicion of involvement in corruption related to the renovation work taking place in the Twin Towers, while three others were arrested on charges of manslaughter.

The fire, which quickly spread upward and between blocks, was only fully contained on Friday morning (28/11) and required more than 2,000 firefighters to bring it under control.

The fire broke out at Wang Fook Court, a large residential complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district, at 2:51pm on Wednesday (26/11) local time. — Image caption, A fire broke out at Wang Fook Court, a large residential complex in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, at 2:51pm on Wednesday (26/11) local time.

On the same day, police began entering the buildings to collect evidence. Authorities say the investigation could take three to four weeks.

Police officer Cang Shuk-yin said on Sunday that officers had already completed inspections of four residential buildings.

The Indonesian Consulate in Hong Kong reported that at least seven of its citizens died in the fire, while the Philippine Consulate reported that one of its citizens died.

Firefighter Ho Wai Ho, 37, was identified among the dead. He was found unconscious at the scene on Wednesday, about 30 minutes after contact was lost.

The tower is destroyed and debris falls from it. The remains of the scaffold - its structure - are still visible. — Image caption, Bamboo scaffolding may have contributed to the spread of the fire

The fire department reported that the fire reached a maximum temperature of 500 degrees Celsius (932 degrees Fahrenheit). 12 firefighters were injured while fighting the fire.

According to authorities, the presence of plastic barriers and other flammable materials on the exterior of the buildings caused the fire to spread quickly throughout the buildings.

The bamboo scaffolding that covered the buildings and is commonly used in construction and renovation work in Hong Kong, may also have contributed to the spread of the fire – sparking debate about the safety of using this material in the sector.

Many residents reported that they did not hear the fire alarm sounds when the fire broke out. The fire department found that all eight buildings were not functioning properly.

The Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (ICAC) reported that among those detained in connection with the corruption investigation were directors of an engineering company and representatives of a subcontractor who allegedly installed the scaffolding.

On the left, hundreds of bouquets of flowers. On the right, people were lined up, some taking pictures. — Image caption, Hundreds of flower bouquets were presented in honor of the dead

A police spokesman previously stated that there was reason to believe that “those responsible for the company were extremely negligent,” leading to the fire and causing it to “spread uncontrollably.”

The Hong Kong Construction Department has temporarily suspended work on 30 private projects.

Police also reportedly arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of disturbing the peace on Saturday. He was part of a group calling for an independent investigation into the fire.

A man gestures as apartment buildings burn behind him. — Image caption, The fire caused a column of thick smoke

A row of five fire department vehicles below the burning towers. Three truck hoses shoot water over them. — Image caption, About two thousand firefighters worked to control the fire

The fire, which was the deadliest in Hong Kong in more than 70 years, prompted authorities in the region to declare a three-day mourning period starting last Saturday.

The ceremony began with a three-minute silence, and the Chinese and Hong Kong flags were lowered at half-mast.

Since then, thousands of people have visited the site to lay flowers, pray and give handwritten notes to the victims.

Indonesian Romla Rusida, who works in the area, said she was “very surprised” by the number of people who came to pray for the victims.

“This event was only posted on social media, but (they) were affected,” she told Reuters news agency.

Mattresses were placed on the floor to serve as beds in the hallway. There are people sitting and standing, and several boxes containing supplies and personal belongings. — Image caption, Those affected gathered in temporary shelters set up by the government

Wang Fook Court Residential Complex was built in 1983. It has 1,984 apartments and a population of about 4,600 people, according to the 2021 government census.

It is estimated that approximately 40% of its population is at least 65 years old. Some of them have been living in the buildings since they opened.

The second deadliest fire ever recorded in Hong Kong killed 176 people in 1948, and was caused by an explosion on the ground floor of a five-storey warehouse.

The deadliest accident ever recorded occurred at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when more than 600 people died.