At least 146 people have now died in the devastating fire that swept through multiple high-rise buildings in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed on Sunday. Police warned that the toll could still rise, with 150 people reported missing and 79 others injured.
The blaze engulfed seven of the eight towers at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, spreading rapidly across the buildings. Officials and residents have blamed flammable construction materials, including plastic netting and bamboo scaffolding, for the speed and intensity of the fire.
Three days of national mourning began on Saturday, with thousands visiting the site to lay flowers and handwritten notes. Queues reportedly stretched as long as 2km (1.2 miles), drawing crowds moved by the tragedy. Indonesian worker Romlah Rosidah and a Filipino worker joined prayers, emphasizing solidarity with the affected community. Flags in Hong Kong and China are flying at half-staff, and officials observed a three-minute silence to mark the start of the mourning period.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, which took more than 40 hours and over 2,000 firefighters to fully extinguish. Eight people have been arrested on suspicion of corruption related to ongoing renovations, and three others face manslaughter charges. Police have completed searches of four of the tower blocks so far, with the investigation expected to take three to four weeks.
The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) said those arrested include engineering company directors and scaffolding subcontractors, with police suggesting “gross negligence” contributed to the fire’s rapid spread. Hong Kong’s Buildings Department has temporarily suspended work on 30 private construction projects pending further review.
Among the deceased was 37-year-old firefighter Ho Wai-ho, who was found collapsed at the scene. Twelve firefighters were injured during the response, which saw temperatures reach up to 500°C (932°F).
The Wang Fuk Court complex, built in 1983, provided 1,984 apartments for roughly 4,600 residents, many of whom are elderly, with nearly 40% aged 65 or older. Several residents reported that fire alarms did not sound during the outbreak, and the fire department confirmed that alarms across all eight blocks were ineffective.
The Hong Kong fire is now the city’s deadliest in more than 70 years. Historical comparisons include a 1948 warehouse explosion that killed 176 people and a 1918 fire at Happy Valley Racecourse that claimed more than 600 lives.
Separately, police detained a 24-year-old man on suspicion of sedition after he petitioned for an independent inquiry into the fire.
The incident has intensified debates over building safety standards, construction materials, and accountability for renovations in Hong Kong’s high-rise estates.