Hong Kong is waking up to grief and shock after a fast moving blaze tore through the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po, leaving at least 55 people dead and more than 250 still unaccounted for. It is the city’s deadliest high rise fire in decades, and one that has shaken a metropolis known for its tight living quarters and towering residential blocks.

A City Still Burning And Searching

More than 24 hours after flames first erupted, firefighters were still battling hotspots and combing through scorched buildings where smoke seeped from shattered windows. The estate, made up of eight residential blocks with nearly 2,000 units, became an inferno as winds pushed flames from one tower to the next.

Fire crews described conditions too dangerous for full searches. Temperatures inside the buildings remained high, and unstable scaffolding kept collapsing as crews tried to reach trapped residents.

Authorities believe renovation work may have worsened the disaster. Several buildings were wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and plastic sheeting at the time of the fire, a common sight in Hong Kong’s construction culture but one that can act like kindling under the wrong conditions. Three men were arrested for allegedly leaving foam packaging at the site, and the city’s anti corruption authority has launched its own probe into the refurbishment project.

Residents Say Fire Alarms Never Sounded

For many who lived in Wang Fuk Court, the terror began in silence. Multiple residents told local media that they never heard fire alarms and only reacted when they saw smoke creeping under doors or heard neighbours pounding frantically on their gates.

One resident, Mr Suen, said he watched flames leap across buildings while firefighters struggled with limited hoses. Others described a desperate, community led evacuation, with people knocking on doors, ringing bells and shouting through corridors to wake those still inside.

It is a chilling reminder of how quickly fires can spread in densely packed estates where thousands of families live within metres of one another.

Communities Turn Pain Into Action

As news of the tragedy spread, Hong Kong residents began showing up at the estate with supplies, food, water and masks for survivors and firefighters. A pop up aid station formed almost instantly, driven by volunteers who said they could not sit at home watching the suffering unfold.

One volunteer, Stone Ngai, spoke emotionally about the city’s response. He said the tragedy reminded him of Hong Kong’s unique spirit, where neighbours, total strangers and entire districts mobilise when one community is hurting.

Social media filled with posts of residents offering spare rooms, temporary storage, transport and donations. Others shared photos of missing loved ones, hoping someone might have seen them amid the chaos.

Heartbreaking Losses Among Firefighters And Workers

Among the dead is a 37 year old firefighter who lost contact with his team and was later found badly burned. His death has deepened the sorrow of a city that already holds immense respect for its emergency responders, especially in a place where firefighting often involves battling extreme heat in cramped vertical spaces.

Two Indonesian domestic workers were also confirmed among the deceased, a reminder of how many migrant workers quietly hold up Hong Kong households and communities.

More than 60 people remain in hospital, with many in critical or serious condition. Hundreds of others spent the night in temporary shelters, unsure whether they will ever return home.

Leaders Under Pressure As Investigation Widens

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee has ordered immediate inspections of all residential buildings undergoing major construction work. In a city where renovation scaffolding is almost as common as the skyscrapers themselves, residents want clearer answers on how a mid renovation estate could become so vulnerable.

Chinese President Xi Jinping released a message of condolence, acknowledging the lives lost, including the firefighter who died in service.

Still, questions loom large. How did the blaze spread so quickly across multiple buildings? Why did so many residents report that fire alarms never sounded? And what responsibility falls on contractors and authorities who approved the site’s renovation setup?

A City With A Painful History Of Fires

While deadly fires were once common in Hong Kong’s older districts, safety standards have significantly improved over the past few decades. The city’s last major residential fire of similar scale happened many years ago, making Wednesday’s tragedy feel both shocking and painfully reminiscent of a time many believed had passed.

For survivors, the memories will last far longer than the headlines. And for the hundreds of families still waiting to hear from their missing loved ones, the next few days will be filled with dread, hope and a desperate search for answers.

A Community United In Grief

As firefighters continue their grim search through the estate, Hong Kong is rallying behind its residents, offering food, shelter and comfort. The city feels smaller today, brought together by shared loss and the determination to not leave a single neighbour behind.

For now, the smoke is still rising. The heartbreak is still raw. But Hong Kong is holding on to one another, waiting for news, and hoping for miracles in the ashes.

{Source:The Citizen}

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