Inside the Devastating Hong Kong Residential Fire: 146 Lives Lost in Wang Fuk Court Tragedy

The devastating aftermath of a catastrophic fire is visible inside the apartment block at Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Hong Kong.

A severely damaged air conditioner remains positioned between a broken window frame. The once-yellow walls are now marked with extensive smoke damage, serving as silent witnesses to the horrific blaze. The floor is covered with fire debris—ashes, charred wood fragments, and melted metal items. What initially began as a small fire on the first floor of an apartment building on Wednesday (November 26) afternoon rapidly escalated into an inferno that consumed eight high-rise buildings at Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district.

This Hong Kong building fire, now considered the world's deadliest residential building fire since the 1980s, has resulted in 146 fatalities thus far.

"As of 4:00 PM (0800 GMT), the latest death count stands at 146. We cannot rule out the possibility of further fatalities," stated chief superintendent Tsang Shuk-yin of the police's casualty enquiry unit during a news conference.

The Hong Kong Police Force continues searching for bodies throughout the complex—in apartments, staircases, hallways, and rooftops. According to police reports, the extensive damage to building interiors has significantly complicated the search efforts.

The first images from inside the building, released by police authorities, show officers from the Disaster Victim Identification Unit (DVIU) working methodically inside the apartment block.

One worker is shown dressed in protective equipment, wearing a respiratory mask and protective eyewear. He has a blue helmet equipped with an attached flashlight and is sifting through the debris using a shovel as he stands amid the fire-damaged remnants.

The fire's severity is clearly evident in another image showing a blackened wall with peeling plaster. A pair of red slippers, once belonging to a resident, stands out starkly against the charred background.

Additional photos show firefighters working outside one of the severely damaged housing blocks of Wang Fuk Court.

Hundreds of police officers from the DVIU are seen queuing outside the housing blocks as they prepare to continue their grim task.

The community has responded with an outpouring of grief. Crowds of mourners gathered across Hong Kong on Sunday to pay their respects and lay flowers for the fire victims. Rows of bouquets, soft toys, and food offerings were placed on the ground near the site.

People were observed lining up patiently to offer floral tributes.

Many wrote heartfelt messages for the victims, attaching them to the building's pillars. One poignant message read "Never Forget Never Forgive".

Regarding the fire's cause, a video shared by RT India suggested it might have been sparked by a cigarette. The footage shows a worker smoking near the outer wall of the building shortly before the fire engulfed Wang Fuk Court.

The devastating scale of destruction has raised serious questions about the construction materials used in the building. According to an Associated Press report, highly flammable Styrofoam was discovered attached to windows on each floor of an unaffected tower, suggesting its use in recent renovations.

The eight high-rises were covered with bamboo scaffolding and green protective netting at the time of the incident. The use of Hong Kong's traditional bamboo scaffolding methods is now being scrutinized as a potential contributing factor.

An interdepartmental task force has been established to investigate the fire's cause. The city's anti-corruption watchdog has arrested 11 individuals in connection with the incident, three of whom were also arrested by police on manslaughter charges.

The Housing Department has surveyed six of the estate's eight apartment blocks and reported finding "no immediate danger" to their overall structural integrity.

Of the 146 recovered bodies, 54 remain unidentified, according to police reports. Officers continue attempting to reach approximately 40 people who have been reported missing.

Fourteen people injured in the fire remain hospitalized in critical condition, with another four in serious condition.