TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A catastrophic fire at Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court (宏福苑) complex has killed 94 people, with flames still burning across three residential towers as of Friday (Nov. 28). The blaze, which erupted Wednesday (Nov. 26) at the Tai Po housing estate, continues to ravage Wang Fuk Court Block E Wang Tai House (宏泰閣), Block B Wang Tao House (宏道閣), and Block A Wang Yan House (宏仁閣). The disaster has prompted widespread expressions of sympathy and prayers from Taiwan.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) responded to the tragedy on Thursday (Nov. 27) on the social media platform X, acknowledging that the fire had spread across multiple high-rise buildings and resulted in over a hundred casualties and several missing persons. He expressed gratitude that the fire is now under control and extended his deepest condolences to the victims and their families, wishing for the safe recovery of the missing.
Kuomintang (KMT, 國民黨), Taiwan's main opposition party, Chairwoman Cheng Li-wun (鄭麗文) and former Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫) offered prayers for Hong Kong on Facebook Thursday, conveying sympathies to those affected. Cheng highlighted the heavy toll the fire has taken on residents, leaving many trapped and families shattered. The KMT caucus, the party's legislative group, held a moment of silence before their morning press conference on Thursday, led by Secretary-General Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) and Deputy Secretary-General Jonathan Lin (林沛祥).
The fire originated from a scaffold outside Wang Fuk Court, Block F, Wang Cheong House (宏昌閣), and rapidly spread to several adjacent buildings. Hong Kong Fire Services Department Deputy Director Derek Armstrong Chan (陳慶勇) indicated firefighting efforts are nearly complete, with flames extinguished in three buildings by 2 a.m. Friday (Nov. 28). He stated the department will continue managing hotspots and expects full extinguishment by Friday night.
Police have arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter, including two directors and a consultant from an engineering company involved in the building's maintenance. The Hong Kong government has launched a large-scale rescue operation, establishing nine emergency shelters for over 500 displaced residents and preparing nearly 1,000 temporary housing units. Among the injured, 12 remain in critical condition, 28 are seriously injured, 17 are stable, and 21 have been discharged from hospitals.
Volunteers have flocked to the scene in a response reminiscent of Taiwan's Hualien landslide disaster mobilization. According to Hong Kong 01, a Hong Kong news outlet, over 100 people have become "infantry" to transport supplies, with 300 volunteers organizing and delivering food, tissues, and medical supplies. The atmosphere remains chaotic yet orderly, the outlet reported. ◼