Dozens dead, hundreds missing in Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades

International

A MASSIVE fire tore through several high-rise buildings in a residential complex in Tai Po, killing at least 44 people and leaving hundreds more missing, in what authorities say may be the most devastating blaze to hit Hong Kong since World War II.

The inferno rapidly engulfed multiple towers, many of which are home to elderly residents, complicating evacuation efforts.

A CNN report said rescuers continued searching through smoke-filled corridors and scorched apartments as portions of the complex remained ablaze.

Emergency teams warned that the death toll could still rise, given the number of residents unaccounted for and the scale of damage inside the buildings.

Hong Kong police announced the arrest of three men on suspicion of manslaughter, accusing them of “gross negligence” in connection with the fire.

Investigators have not yet disclosed the details of their alleged involvement but confirmed that multiple leads are being pursued.

Authorities and residents alike expressed shock over the scale of the tragedy, noting that such a deadly incident is highly unusual for Hong Kong, a city known for strong safety regulations and stringent building standards.

Officials admitted that difficult questions now hang over how a disaster of this magnitude unfolded in a city of skyscrapers.

In recent years, however, data shows fire-related fatalities in Hong Kong have been ticking upward.

According to the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, 33 people were killed in fire incidents in 2024, with major causes including cooking accidents, improper disposal of cigarette ends, matches and candles, and electrical faults.

That number followed the 31 recorded deaths in 2023—at the time the highest in more than two decades, based on data from the Legislative Council Secretariat’s research office.

A decade earlier, in 2013, fire-related deaths totaled only 12.

Comparisons with similarly sized global cities highlight the shift. New York City, with a population of roughly 8.4 million, recorded 78 fire deaths in 2024 and 104 in 2023, according to the New York City Fire Department.

While Hong Kong’s overall numbers remain lower, the recent upward trend is prompting growing concern.

As the search for survivors continues and authorities begin assessing the full extent of the disaster, public scrutiny is intensifying.(Xienderlyn Trinidad, USJ-R Comm Intern)