At 2:51 pm on 26 November, a fire broke out in the Hongfu Court residential complex in Tai Po, Hong Kong.

According to local reports, at least 13, including a firefighter, have been killed by the blaze. Almost 800 firefighters are currently actively battling the fire.

The fire alarm level was rapidly escalated several times: to Level 3 at 3:02 pm, Level 4 at 3:34 pm, and Level 5 (the highest level) by 6:22 pm.

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been excalated by bamboo scaffolding on the exterior walls, producing thick smoke and accompanying explosions.

Hongfu Court is a large residential complex consisting of eight towers. At the time of the incident, exterior wall maintenance was underway. The presence of scaffolding and protective netting accelerated the spread of the fire, which quickly reached neighbouring buildings.

Firefighters deployed multiple hoses, aerial ladders, and teams wearing breathing apparatus to carry out rescues. The scaffolding and netting not only fuelled the fire but also complicated the rescue efforts. Firefighters had to search each floor for trapped residents and used drones to obtain an overall view of the scene.

Police expanded cordons to prevent residents from approaching and advised nearby residents to close doors and windows and stay indoors.