Hong Kong Tai Po Wang Fuk Court Level 5 Fire Gradually Brought Under Control: Death Toll Rises to 44 with 279 Missing

The Level 5 fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, had gradually come under control by the early hours of the 27th. The three affected buildings are no longer ablaze, but there are still scattered flames in the remaining four buildings. Authorities stated that at least 44 people have died and one firefighter has lost their life in the line of duty. As of 10 a.m., among the 62 people hospitalized for injuries, 16 are in critical condition, 25 are serious, 16 are stable, and 7 have been discharged. There are 279 people unaccounted for.

Government officials said the fire spread along the building's exterior wall materials much faster than usual, describing the incident as highly unusual. Law enforcement and the Fire Services Department have established a special task force for follow-up, and investigations will be submitted to the Coroner’s Court and also be pursued from a criminal perspective.

During the fire, the Fire Services Department deployed over 140 fire engines, more than 60 ambulances, mobilized over 800 personnel, and used drones to survey the disaster site.

● Three Engineering Company Executives Arrested on Suspicion of "Manslaughter"

On another front, law enforcement stated that after investigation, it was found that the building's exterior wall materials possibly did not meet standards, and three engineering company executives are suspected of gross negligence. Police subsequently arrested two directors of the construction company and one engineering consultant—three men aged between 52 and 68—on suspicion of "manslaughter." On the morning of the 27th, a group of officers escorted one of the arrested men to the construction company's office to collect evidence, seizing a large number of documents and computers for further investigation.

The Fire Services Department discovered that materials such as protective nets, protective films, waterproof canvas, and plastic sheeting had been installed on the exterior of the building, which are suspected not to comply with fire protection standards. Police investigations also found that the windows of each elevator lobby floor in one unaffected building were sealed with foam, which is highly flammable and could have accelerated the spread of the fire, possibly explaining why the fire spread so rapidly. Work on handling the deceased is still ongoing. Law enforcement will work with the coroner to process the bodies and arrange for family identification as soon as possible.