Hong Kong Fire Kills 44, Hundreds Still Missing As Massive Blaze Tears Through High-Rises; 3 Suspects Arrested | Updates

Hong Kong Fire: The death toll from the massive blaze that engulfed multiple high-rise residential buildings in the Tai Po district of northern Hong Kong, has risen to at least 44, AFP reported quoting officials on Thursday. Three suspects have also been arrested by the police. The fire has not been brought under control completely as the buildings continue to emit heavy smoke.

#WATCH | China | A huge fire that broke out at a residential apartment complex in Hong Kong yesterday, which has claimed the lives of 44 people with 300 people still missing, continues to burn. According to the Police, the fire may have been spread by unsafe scaffolding and foam… pic.twitter.com/SeCC6O9QVM

— ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2025

Hong Kong Fire Top Updates

-The blaze, described as one of the most severe in recent years, began in an eight-building complex with 2,000 apartment units on Wednesday afternoon.

-The fire spread rapidly across bamboo scaffolding surrounding multiple apartment buildings, trapping residents inside their homes.

-At least 300 people remain unaccounted for, and several dozen have been hospitalised, reported Reuters. About 700 people have been evacuated to temporary shelters.

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-The death toll was updated from 36 to 44 on Thursday morning by the fire department.

-Three men were arrested, police said as quoted by AFP. The men have been taken into custody on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the fire. However, no specific details have been provided in this regard.

-Authorities informed that an investigation will be carried out to examine the materials on the buildings' exterior that could have aided the fire to spread faster.

-The horrific visuals showed charred scaffolding falling from the burning blocks with flames seen inside apartments.

VIDEO | Hong Kong: 36 persons were killed in a fire that spread across multiple high-rise apartment buildings in a Hong Kong housing complex, the city's fire services said Wednesday.

Another 279 people were reported missing in the deadliest fire in years blazed late into the… pic.twitter.com/oAcMHnlzSU

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 27, 2025

-"The temperature at the scene is very high and there are some floors where we have been unable to reach people who requested help, but we will keep trying," said Derek Armstrong Chan, the deputy director of fire service operations, as quoted by AFP.

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-Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed grief over the deaths during the fire incident. He also expressed condolences to "the firefighter who died in the line of duty", according to state media.

-In view of the firefighting operations, a few sections of a nearby highway were also shut.

(With Agency Inputs)