Latest News
Hong Kong’s deadliest blaze in decades kills at least 75, scores missing
Hong Kong authorities say the death toll from the city’s worst fire in decades has risen to at least 75, as firefighters scoured torched high-rise buildings in an apartment complex for scores of people listed as missing.
Flames were still visible in some of the eight-building estate’s almost 2000 units well over 24 hours after the fire broke out, with crews still spraying water over the blackened exteriors.
Authorities have begun investigating what sparked the disastrous blaze — the financial hub’s worst in almost 80 years — including the presence of bamboo scaffolding and plastic mesh wrapped around the structures as part of an estate-wide renovation.
Hong Kong’s anti-corruption body said it has launched a probe into renovation work at the housing complex, hours after police said they had arrested three men on suspicion of negligently leaving foam packaging at the fire site.
Residents of Wang Fuk Court, located in Hong Kong’s northern district of Tai Po, told AFP that they did not hear any fire alarms and had to go door-to-door to alert neighbours to the danger.
“The fire spread so quickly. I saw one hose trying to save several buildings, and I felt it was far too slow,” said a man surnamed Suen.
“Ringing doorbells, knocking on doors, alerting the neighbours, telling them to leave — that’s what the situation was like,” he said.
The intense flames were finally extinguished in four of the eight apartment blocks and the fires in three others were under control, officials said on Thursday afternoon (local time). One building was not affected.
A “saddened” Pope Leo issued a statement sending “spiritual solidarity to all those suffering… especially the injured and the families who grieve”.
Thick smoke and flames rise as a major fire engulfs several apartment blocks at the Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on 26 November, 2025. Photo: YAN ZHAO / AFP
‘Cannot describe it’
Of the 75 people confirmed dead by 10pm Thursday (3am Friday NZT), one was a 37-year-old firefighter and two were Indonesians working as migrant domestic workers.
It is Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since 1948, when an explosion followed by a fire killed 135 people.
But the toll could yet rise further, with city leader John Lee saying in the early hours of Thursday (local time) that 279 people were unaccounted for. However, firefighters said later that they had made contact with some of those and authorities have not updated the figure since.
Police at a nearby community centre hoping to identify victims showed photos of bodies pulled from the fire to people seeking missing loved ones.
“If the faces are unrecognisable, there are personal items for people to identify,” said a woman surnamed Cheung who was looking for her relatives.
“I cannot describe my feelings. There were children… I cannot describe it.”
A government spokesman told AFP on Thursday evening (local time) that of those being treated in hospital, 12 were in a critical condition, 29 were listed as serious and 17 were stable.
Deadly fires were once a regular scourge in densely populated Hong Kong, especially in poorer neighbourhoods, but improved safety measures have made them far less common.
Hong Kong authorities will immediately inspect all housing estates undergoing major works following the disaster, city leader Lee said.
The city’s number two official Eric Chan told a news conference it was “imperative to expedite the full transition to metal scaffolding”, adding that the government would collaborate with the construction industry.
Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the victims, according to state media, with the Hong Kong government saying Beijing would provide assistance such as drones and medicine.
City authorities said they had opened nine shelters and were organising temporary accommodation and emergency funds for those who had lost their homes.
Activities around Hong Kong’s legislative elections, set to take place on 7 December, have been suspended.
Residents take refuge in a temporary shelter near the Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on November 26, 2025. Photo: TOMMY WANG
Hellish scenes
Sections of charred scaffolding fell from the burning apartment blocks in hellish scenes late on Wednesday (local time), as flames inside apartments sometimes belched out through windows into a night sky that glowed orange.
Fire services said the wind and drifting debris likely spread the fire from one building to another.
Some of the residents in adjacent blocks who had been evacuated as a precaution were allowed back into their homes on Thursday afternoon (local time).
Crowds moved by the tragedy gathered near the complex to organise aid for displaced residents and firefighters, part of a spontaneous effort in a city that has some of the world’s most densely packed and tallest residential blocks.
Volunteers distributed clothes and lunch boxes at the open-air podium of a nearby mall, while a few people gave out flyers with information about missing people.
“It’s truly touching,” said Stone Ngai, 38, one of the organisers of an impromptu aid station.
“The spirit of Hong Kong people is that when one is in trouble, everyone lends support… It shows that Hong Kong people are full of love.”
– AFP
The chief executive of the Parliamentary Service is confident there will be enough room to accommodate the increased number of MPs and their staff coming into Parliament.
On current numbers, up to 131 MPs could be sitting in the Chamber following the election, brought on by a record overhang result.
Clerk of the House of Representatives Dr David Wilson told the Spinoff that currently the debating chamber had enough chairs to seat 124 MPs – including the Speaker of the House – and work was being done to accommodate more by altering the seating arrangement.
In a statement, Parliamentary Service chief executive Rafael Gonzalez-Montero said planning for a larger Parliament had been going for “some time”.
“Now that the election results have confirmed an increase to the number of members we are looking at several options.
“We are confident we will be able to accommodate all members within the Chamber.”
VNP / Phil Smith
Gonzalez-Montero said office accommodation for members and their staff would be “stretched” for a short time, but the new Members’ Building was only a few months away from “practical completion”.
That building – located behind Parliament – was due to be ready to occupy in April next year and had capacity to accommodate around 30 backbench MPs.
“All members should be in fit-for-purpose accommodation from that point,” Gonzalez-Montero said.
Following the 2023 election, 123 MPs sat in the Chamber – a record number at the time. That decreased to 122 following the resignation of National MP Judith Collins.
Collins held the seat of Papakura and stepped down in May and Parliament voted against holding a by-election because it was too close to the election.
The election result also meant high-ranking National Party MPs like Chris Bishop, Paul Goldsmith, Nicola Willis and Gerry Brownlee – Speaker of the House and an MP for 30 years – would likely not make it back into Parliament.
Only resigning or retiring MPs were permitted to give a valedictory speech meaning none of them would get the chance to give a valedictory statement.
Asked if their would be special allowances for valedictories, Wilson said in a statement that normally only MPs were allowed to speak in the House but the House could suspend its own rules or temporarily alter them.
“It could do so to allow former members to address the House.”
Wilson said no such arrangements could be made until the next Parliament opened and members sworn in.
rnz
Police say person who fired gun at officers still at large
New Zealand sides named for RLWC finals
Parliamentary Service working on extra chairs and offices for increased number of MPs
-
Latest News2 months ago‘Chilling’: Business groups speak out against National’s supermarket break-up plan
-
NZ News2 months agoTom Phillips report: The missed opportunities to find the children
-
Politics2 months agoNational vows to try to split Pak’nSave and New World
-
Latest News2 months agoCars bearing Chinese police markings stir unease in Auckland
-
Fiji News2 months agoPlans to have new Constitution by Dec 24th 2026
-
NZ News2 months agoCop who stole $68,000 can now be named as champion Muay Thai fighter Haimona Tamati-Te Paki
-
Politics2 months agoMBIE confirms botched biometric projects costs blown out to $50.7 million
-
Latest News2 months agoFive Karangahape Road venues lose their liquor licences after police intervention