Inside The Hong Kong Inferno: First Images From Inside Deadly Wang Fuk Court Fire That Killed 151

the Tai Po housing complex on November 26, rapidly engulfed eight high-rises, leaving 151 people confirmed dead and dozens more missing. Police say the death toll could still rise as search teams struggle through unstable hallways, collapsed interiors and charred debris.

Photos released by Hong Kong’s Disaster Victim Identification Unit show blackened walls, melted fixtures, warped metal and personal belongings turned to ash. Search teams in helmets and respiratory masks are seen sifting through rubble, while outside, rows of officers wait to enter the scorched towers. Across the city, mourners have laid flowers, handwritten notes and soft toys — a message reading “Never Forget Never Forgive” taped to a pillar.

The incident has prompted urgent scrutiny of safety lapses, including the use of highly flammable Styrofoam found during renovations and bamboo scaffolding that wrapped the buildings during the fire. Authorities have arrested 11 individuals, including suspects linked to both manslaughter and corruption, as part of a sweeping probe now underway. Fourteen people remain in critical condition in hospital, while 54 bodies are still waiting to be formally identified.