Saturday, March 29, 2025
Hong Kong Fire Tragedy: Residential Towers Burn Like Dry Leaves, 44 Dead, 3 Arrested
A devastating fire in several residential towers in Hong Kong has claimed dozens of lives and left hundreds missing. The incident occurred on Wednesday in the Wang Chuk Court housing complex, located in the Tai Po district. According to local authorities, the death toll has risen to 44, while 279 people are still reported missing. Many others are hospitalized in critical condition.
Local media reports state that three individuals responsible for the conditions that led to the disaster have been arrested. Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed condolences to the victims’ families and directed officials to accelerate rescue operations.
According to a Reuters report, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee said the buildings involved in the fire were constructed in the 1980s. The seven towers contained around 2,000 apartments and housed nearly 4,000 residents, including many elderly citizens. Large-scale renovation work had been ongoing for some time, and the buildings were surrounded by oil-based paint, bamboo scaffolding, and flammable materials — factors that contributed to the rapid spread of the fire. Within minutes, flames engulfed all seven blocks.
Fire brigade teams reached the scene quickly, but by then the blaze had already caused severe casualties. Firefighters battled the flames late into the night before finally bringing the situation under control. Over 700 residents have since been moved to temporary shelters. Police and fire authorities have formed a special investigation unit to determine the exact cause of the fire.
Following the incident, police arrested two directors from the construction company responsible for the buildings and an engineer overseeing the renovation work. Chief Executive John Lee confirmed that all three have been charged with mass manslaughter.
If you want, I can also write a shorter summary, a more formal news article style, or a breaking-news headline version.
