Deadly Tai Po residential building fire claims 44 lives, hundreds missing in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s Chief Executive has pledged that all government departments will provide full support to affected residents as 279 people remain missing.

A catastrophic No. 5 alarm fire swept through Tai Po’s Wang Fuk Court on Wednesday, 26 November 2025, leaving at least 44 people dead – including one firefighter – while 279 remain missing and 17 are in critical condition.

Chief Executive John Lee has expressed his deepest condolences to the victims’ families and the injured, and has immediately activated the Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre.

He pledged that all government departments will provide full support to residents affected, prioritising public safety and wellbeing during the ongoing crisis.

Police have set up a casualty hotline (1878 999) for public inquiries. The Home Affairs Department, District Offices and Social Welfare Department have established interdepartmental help desks, arranged temporary shelters for displaced residents, and are providing emotional and practical support to affected families.

The Hospital Authority has triggered an emergency mechanism to ensure the injured receive urgent care.

Meanwhile, the Education Bureau has announced that at least 13 schools impacted by the fire or road closures will suspend classes on 27 November, including:

• CCC Fung Leung Kit Memorial Secondary School
• Tai Po Baptist Public School
• S.K.H. Yuen Chen Maun Chen Primary School
• Ling Liang Church M H Lau Secondary School
• H.K. & Kowloon Kaifong Women's Association Sun Fong Chung College
• Po Leung Kuk Tin Ka Ping Millennium Primary School
• St. Hilary's Primary School
• Tai Kwong Hilary College
• Norwegian International School Kindergarten
• Valtorta College
• Wong Shiu Chi Secondary School
• PLK Lau Chun Kindergarten
• Anchors Kindergarten & International Nursery (Constellation Cove Campus)

The Transport Department has advised commuters to monitor traffic updates and allow extra travel time. Traffic on Tai Po Road, Tolo Highway, Fanling Highway, and roads in Tai Po town centre is expected to be busier than usual. Motorists are advised to avoid driving to the affected area.

For public transport, 39 daytime franchised bus routes have been diverted; passengers are urged to check operators’ websites or apps and use rail services where possible.

The blaze, first reported at 2:51 p.m. on Wednesday, rapidly engulfed seven of eight residential blocks. Fire alarms escalated from No. 3 alarm at 3.02pm to No. 4 alarm at 3.34pm, and finally to No. 5 alarm at 6.22pm.

Local media reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended condolences and called for an all-out effort to extinguish the fire and minimise casualties.