Times Square Global Live | Breaking News – Public SafetyHong Kong High-Rise Inferno at Wang Fuk Court Kills Dozens; Hundreds Reported Missing as Authorities Probe Suspected Safety LapsesBy Winny Power, Founder & Editor-in-Chief | Times Square Global Live (TSGL)Reporting based on public sources.
Hong Kong / New York | 27 November 2025
A massive fire at Wang Fuk Court, a dense public-housing complex in Tai Po, Hong Kong, has become one of the city’s deadliest disasters in decades, with the latest reported toll reaching at least 83 deaths and 279 people reported missing, according to Reuters.
The blaze began on Wednesday, 26 November, and burned for more than 24 hours, spreading across multiple towers in the eight-building estate. Rescue and suppression efforts were repeatedly hampered by extreme heat, heavy smoke, and falling debris and scaffolding, while aerial and ladder access was limited by the towers’ height.
Renovation materials and scaffolding under scrutiny
Authorities have signaled that construction and renovation materials may have contributed to the rapid spread. Reuters reported that the affected buildings were undergoing works and were shrouded in bamboo scaffolding, which has raised renewed safety questions.
Hong Kong’s government said it activated emergency coordination mechanisms immediately after the No. 5 alarm fire and has been mobilizing multiple departments to manage casualties, rescue, sheltering, and site safety.
Arrests and criminal investigation
Police have arrested two company directors and an engineering consultant—linked, according to Reuters, to Prestige Construction—on suspicion of manslaughter, alleging possible gross negligence related to unsafe materials used during building works.
Shelter and relief measures
Nearly 900 residents were displaced and moved to temporary shelters, according to multiple reports.
Chief Executive John Lee announced a HK$300 million relief fund to support affected residents, local broadcaster RTHK reported.
Why this matters beyond Hong Kong
The tragedy is intensifying debate over high-rise fire risks during renovations, particularly where combustible materials, exterior works, and scaffolding systems interact. Reuters also noted that the incident has renewed attention on Hong Kong’s reliance on bamboo scaffolding and the push toward safer alternatives.
（中文）时代广场全球直播间｜突发公共安全
香港大埔“宏福苑”高层住宅大火酿重大伤亡：最新报告至少83死、279人失联，警方以“误杀罪”拘捕3人调查施工安全
记者：Winny Power（创办人&总编辑）｜Times Square Global Live（TSGL）
说明：本文基于公开信息与权威媒体报道整理。
香港 / 纽约｜2025年11月27日
香港新界大埔住宅屋邨 “宏福苑（Wang Fuk Court）” 于11月26日发生大规模火灾，并延烧超过24小时，成为香港数十年来最严重的建筑火灾之一。根据路透社最新报道，目前已确认至少83人死亡，另有279人被报告失联。
火灾波及该屋邨多座高层大厦。救援人员面对高温、浓烟、坠落碎片与棚架结构等多重风险，搜救与灭火进度受限；香港政府亦指出该事件为五级火警，已启动跨部门紧急协调机制，整合消防、医疗、民政及安置等工作。
施工与外墙/棚架材料成调查焦点
多方信息显示，涉事楼宇当时正处于维修或翻新状态。路透社指出，现场建筑外部覆盖竹棚架等施工结构，外界关注其在火势快速蔓延中可能扮演的作用。
警方拘捕3人：以“误杀（manslaughter）”方向调查严重疏忽
警方已拘捕与施工方有关的两名董事及一名工程顾问，并以涉嫌“误杀”方向调查，指向可能存在的重大疏忽与施工材料安全问题。路透社报道称，被点名关联企业为 Prestige Construction。
安置与善后：近900人撤离，设立3亿港元援助基金
多家媒体报道，约900名居民已被转移至临时安置点。
香港电台RTHK报道，行政长官李家超宣布设立3亿港元援助基金支援受影响居民。
TSGL中性观察
此次灾难将“高层住宅翻修期间的火灾风险”推到聚光灯下：当外墙施工、棚架系统与潜在可燃材料叠加，火势可能出现跨楼层、跨楼宇的快速扩散。后续调查的透明度、责任厘清与制度性改进（包括施工材料认证、监管抽检与棚架标准）将是社会关注重点。
香港新界大埔「宏福苑社區」26日下午爆發大火，延燒社區多棟大樓
香港新界大埔「宏福苑社區」26日下午發生大火，延燒社區多棟大樓。截至27日凌晨，火勢尚未撲滅，救援工作仍在進行。
經過一夜的焚燒，27日早上空拍畫面顯示，雖然大部分火勢看似已撲滅但消防員持續灑水灌救，遭火焰吞噬的高樓一片焦黑。
消防員在現場全力撲救，試圖控制延燒至多棟建築外牆竹棚架的火勢
部分居民在宏福苑住宅區附近的臨時庇護所向警方與官員通報家屬的狀況。這場大火吞噬高度密集的大樓群，是香港近數十年來最嚴重的火災之一。、
About Times Square Global Live (TSGL)Times Square Global Live (TSGL), which I founded in 2017, is a New York–based independent media platform focusing on United Nations affairs, global governance, and sustainable development. TSGL serves as an important bridge to Chinese-speaking audiences worldwide. Reporting from the heart of Manhattan, we aim to bring UN debates and decisions closer to the public, amplifying diverse voices from conflict zones, diasporas, and civil society.时代广场全球直播间（TSGL）简介时代广场全球直播间（Times Square Global Live，简称 TSGL）于2017年在纽约创立，是一家立足纽约的独立媒体平台，聚焦联合国事务、全球治理与可持续发展。TSGL 致力于成为连接全球华语受众的重要桥梁。我们以曼哈顿核心区域为报道基地，力求将联合国的议题讨论与决策动态以更贴近公众、更易理解的方式呈现，放大来自冲突地区、侨民社群与公民社会的多元声音。
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