A devastating fire swept through numerous high-rise apartment buildings in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, claiming the lives of at least 13 individuals while leaving others reportedly trapped inside.

According to the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, the alarm was raised when a fire erupted at the Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, located in the northern New Territories, at approximately 2:50 p.m.

By 6:22 p.m., the blaze had intensified to a No. 5 alarm, marking it as the highest level of severity in Hong Kong’s fire classification system.

A government announcement revealed that nine people had been transported to Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital for treatment.

On November 26, 2025, flames consumed bamboo scaffolding surrounding several buildings within the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po, as captured in a photo by Tyrone Siu for Reuters.

Tragically, four individuals were confirmed dead, with three others in critical condition. An additional person was described as being in serious condition, while another was reported as stable.

Tang Ping-keung, the secretary for security of Hong Kong, said one fireman died after sustaining injuries while battling the blaze.

“I am profoundly grieved at the passing of Mr Ho, who lost his life in the course of an operation. I offer my deepest condolences to his family members,” Tang said.

Firefighters work to extinguish flames engulfing bamboo scaffolding across multiple buildings at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Photos from the scene showed the bamboo scaffolding of the towers engulfed in flames and thick, dark smoke pouring out of multiple floors.

Firefighters were working to extinguish the blaze, and one man was photographed in visible distress, saying his wife was trapped inside.

Wong, 71, reacts after claiming his wife is trapped inside Wang Fuk Court during a major fire in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Chan Kwong-tak, an 83-year-old retiree living in the community, told The South China Morning Post that the fire alarms failed to go off when the blaze broke out, even though the buildings were equipped with them.

“If someone was sleeping then, they were done,” he said.

Tai Po’s former district councillor, Herman Yiu Kwan-ho, also told the outlet that residents reported not hearing the fire alarms go off even after they detected the smell of smoke. He said they were only warned when a security guard knocked on their doors, giving them little time to get out.

The Tai Po District Office opened temporary shelters for people in need at the Kwong Fuk Community Hall and the Tung Cheong Street Community Hall.