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 media reports, at least 13 people, including a firefighter, have died in the blaze.

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

Footage shows firefighters attempting to extinguish the blaze during the day. Clips towards the end of the video show the fire burning into the night, with flames illuminating the sky.

Preliminary investigations suggest the fire may have been triggered by scaffolding on the exterior walls, producing thick smoke and explosions. Hongfu Court is a large residential complex consisting of eight buildings. At the time, exterior wall maintenance was underway. The bamboo scaffolding and protective netting accelerated the spread of the fire, which quickly reached neighbouring buildings.

Firefighters deployed multiple hoses and aerial ladder trucks and sent in rescue teams wearing breathing apparatus. The scaffolding and netting not only fuelled the fire but also complicated rescue operations. Firefighters had to search each floor for trapped residents and used drones to obtain an overall view of the scene. Police extended cordons to keep residents away and advised nearby residents to close doors and windows and stay indoors.

Firefighters are currently working to bring the blaze under control, and casualty figures are still being confirmed.