28-11-2025 (HONG KONG) The death toll from the devastating high-rise fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po has been officially confirmed at 94, including one firefighter, as emergency efforts transitioned from active firefighting to the critical final phase of search and rescue (S&R). Authorities recorded a total of 155 casualties, with the Hospital Authority reporting that 12 patients remain in critical condition and 28 in serious condition as of early Friday morning.
Deputy Director of Fire Services (Operations) Chan Hing-yong stated that the main blaze is “largely complete,” with crews now focusing on resolving 25 outstanding emergency calls. Firefighters are proceeding with a highly dangerous plan to use forced entry across seven affected residential blocks, concentrating their efforts on Wang Cheong House and Wang Tai House where the fire was most intense and most fatalities occurred.
With the operation winding down, the investigation is set to accelerate, focusing on the discovered expanded polystyrene (EPS) materials suspected of fueling the rapid spread. Officials will also launch a thorough probe into the fire’s origin and whether crucial fire protection systems in the complex functioned properly. Decisions on when residents can return will depend heavily on the outcome of these structural safety and cause assessments.
