A devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong's Tai Po district has resulted in 159 confirmed deaths as of December 4, 2025, with 31 individuals still unaccounted for. The November 26 blaze engulfed multiple floors during maintenance work, trapping numerous construction personnel who attempted emergency firefighting measures before evacuation.
Hong Kong Police confirmed at a Wednesday briefing that victims included contractors and workers from at least three maintenance teams. The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions has distributed HK$20,000 (US$2,600) in emergency relief to each affected family, while the SAR government pledged equal support for all survivors and bereaved families.
A surviving worker described harrowing conditions during the incident: "Flames from a neighboring building fell onto our work area on the 10th floor. We tried using onsite hoses, but the fire spread too fast. Our contractor shouted for immediate evacuation." Fire services continue investigating the cause as recovery operations persist at the charred residential complex.
