Hong Kong mourns as deadly high-rise blaze kills 146, dozens still missing

Hong Kong is reeling from one of the deadliest blazes in its history after a massive fire engulfed the Wang Fuk Court residential complex in Tai Po, killing at least 146 people and leaving scores still missing. A steady stream of mourners continued to gather at the blackened site on Sunday, laying white roses, lilies and handwritten messages at a growing makeshift memorial outside the charred high-rises.

The scene has been visited by thousands of residents since the fire broke out on Wednesday, with prayers offered, supplies donated and solidarity expressed for survivors who lost their homes and families.A wake-up call for everyone is really being served, especially with these super high-rise buildings, was said by resident Lian Shuzheng.It is truly heartbreaking.

Search teams from the Hong Kong police’s Disaster Victim Identification Unit continue to comb through the ruins as dozens remain unaccounted for. Several body bags were removed on Sunday as investigations broadened into potential safety lapses at the eight-tower complex, which housed more than 4,600 residents.

All eight 31-storey buildings were undergoing renovation and were wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and nylon netting, with windows sealed using polystyrene foam panels. Authorities are now examining whether these materials contributed to the rapid spread of the blaze and whether fire safety regulations were breached.

The Hong Kong government has suspended work at 28 construction projects managed by Prestige Construction & Engineering Company, the contractor responsible for the renovation, citing a lack of confidence in its ability to ensure site safety. The company declined to comment.

Three senior figures linked to a construction firm were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter the day after the fire, before being detained again by anti-corruption authorities. Eight more individuals including scaffolding subcontractors, consulting engineers and project managers have also been arrested as part of the widening probe.

Preliminary findings show the fire began on lower scaffolding netting before leaping inside the building as foam panels ignited, blowing out windows and helping flames travel upward and sideways. Winds then pushed the blaze across seven of the eight towers. More than 2,000 firefighters battled the inferno for nearly 40 hours before it was fully extinguished Friday morning.

Some fire alarms in the complex reportedly failed during testing, authorities said, raising further concerns about maintenance standards in buildings with large elderly populations.

Officials said Saturday that 44 of the 146 recovered bodies remain unidentified, while roughly 150 people are still missing.

Foreign nationals are among the victims. Indonesia confirmed seven dead and dozens more missing, while the Philippines reported one fatality: a domestic helper with 12 citizens unaccounted for. Hundreds of Filipinos held a prayer gathering in central Hong Kong on Sunday to honor their compatriots.

The tragedy has drawn international attention and prompted Beijing to announce a nationwide inspection of high-rise buildings, targeting fire safety equipment, scaffolding materials and alarm systems.

Nearly 2,000 households have been evacuated, with many residents now staying in emergency shelters and hotels as authorities plan long-term housing solutions. For those visiting the memorial, the scale of the disaster is still sinking in.

As a Hong Konger, it is felt to be unbearable when families and entire lives are lost by people in one night, said by civil servant Jeffery Chan.Support, encouragement and help are needed by all of us.

The fire has triggered one of the largest public displays of mourning the city has seen in years and raised urgent questions about building safety in one of the world’s most densely populated urban centres.