Hong Kong High-Rise Inferno Leaves at Least 83 Dead

A massive fire sweeping through a large public housing complex in Hong Kong has killed at least 83 people, with hundreds more still unaccounted for, marking the city’s deadliest disaster in decades. The blaze, which began Wednesday afternoon, continued burning into Thursday as firefighters battled soaring temperatures and falling debris.

Local media showed at least two apartment towers still engulfed in flames more than 24 hours after the fire erupted in the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po. The complex is home to more than 4,000 residents, many of them older adults. Rescue teams said the extreme heat inside the buildings made it nearly impossible to reach people trapped on upper floors.

By early Thursday morning, fires in three buildings had been put out, while four others continued to burn in isolated sections. At a news conference later in the day, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said the situation across all towers was “basically under control,” though the final number of casualties remains unclear.

But questions continue to mount over how such a disaster could unfold in a city known for strong building standards and rigorous safety regulations.

The cause of the fire remains unknown, and authorities have launched a criminal investigation.

Chan said firefighters knew the locations of many people who were trapped but were unable to reach them because temperatures inside the buildings were simply too high. Search teams are expected to work through the night as the city braces for more grim discoveries.