What went wrong before Hong Kong’s apartment inferno

Sunday, December 28, 2025 -Hong Kong’s deadly apartment blaze at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex unfolded with terrifying speed, and early investigations point to serious safety failures that preceded the inferno. 

The fire began in the afternoon on November 26, 2025, at one of the residential towers undergoing major renovations when flames first ignited on the exterior of the building. Residents reported that fire alarms failed to activate as smoke spread, leaving many unaware of the danger until it was too late. 

Officials believe that highly flammable renovation materials used on the building’s scaffolding and window coverings—including styrofoam insulation and plastic sheeting—played a central role in how rapidly the blaze climbed across multiple high‑rise blocks.

Long before the fire broke out, tenants had raised safety concerns about the renovation work, particularly the protective green mesh covering bamboo scaffolding that encased the buildings. Authorities had initially assured residents that these materials posed “relatively low fire risks,” but critics now say that the nets and insulation likely did not meet fire‑safety standards, a failure that enabled the fire to spread upward with deadly efficiency. 

Investigators and the Independent Commission Against Corruption have since arrested multiple people linked to the renovation project on suspicion of gross negligence and possible corruption tied to construction practices and material choices.

The aftermath has laid bare how a combination of inadequate safety precautions, questionable renovation materials, and possible regulatory lapses can set the stage for catastrophe. 

With at least 150 people confirmed dead and many others still missing, Hong Kong officials have launched sweeping probes and pledged reforms, including stricter enforcement of building‑safety codes and material standards for renovation work. The tragedy underscores an urgent need for comprehensive accountability and building‑safety oversight to prevent similar disasters in densely populated cities.