The 5-Alarm Fire at Hong Kong Tai Po Wang Fook Court Gradually Brought Under Control; Death Toll Rises to 44, 279 Missing

The 5-alarm fire at Hong Kong Tai Po Wang Fook Court has gradually come under control as of the early hours of the 27th, with no more visible flames in the three affected buildings, while four other buildings still have sporadic fire. Authorities reported at least 44 deaths, with one firefighter killed in the line of duty. As of 10 a.m., among the 62 people hospitalized, 16 are in critical condition, 25 are in serious condition, 16 are stable, and 7 have been discharged. There are 279 people unaccounted for.

Government officials stated that the fire on the exterior wall materials spread faster than usual, and the circumstances are unusual. Law enforcement agencies and the Fire Services Department have set up a special task force to follow up, submitting the case to the Coroner’s Court and investigating in the direction of criminal liability.

During the blaze, the Fire Services Department deployed over 140 fire trucks and more than 60 ambulances, mobilizing over 800 personnel and utilizing drones to assess the situation at the disaster site.

● Three Construction Company Managers Arrested on Suspicion of 'Manslaughter'

On the other hand, law enforcement agencies reported that upon investigation, the building's external wall materials were suspected not to meet standards, and three construction company managers were suspected of serious negligence. Police then arrested two company directors and one engineering consultant (aged between 52 and 68) on suspicion of 'manslaughter'. On the morning of the 27th, a team of police officers escorted one of the suspects to the involved construction company to collect evidence, seizing a large number of documents and computers for further investigation.

The Fire Services Department discovered that the building's exterior walls were fitted with protective nets, protective films, waterproof canvases, and plastic sheets, all suspected of failing to meet fire safety standards. Further investigation by the police revealed that every elevator lobby window in one unaffected building was sealed with foam, an extremely flammable material that may have accelerated the fire’s spread and likely contributed to the rapid escalation of the blaze. Work on handling the victims' remains is still ongoing, and law enforcement will work with forensic experts to process them as quickly as possible and arrange identification procedures for families.