Death toll rises to 161 in Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades

The death toll from Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades has risen to 161, after forensic analysis confirmed one more victim among the charred remains at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, more than three weeks after the blaze began, authorities said on Saturday.

Hong Kong police confirmed that DNA tests identified another person in a body previously thought to belong to a couple, raising the total number of confirmed deaths from the fire to 161, Commissioner of Police Joe Chow Yat-ming said during a passing-out parade at the Hong Kong Police College.

Chow cautioned that ongoing forensic testing may reveal additional victims, adding that authorities cannot rule out further increases in the death toll. He also noted that all six previously missing residents have now been accounted for, with five people confirmed dead in the fire itself and one fatality dating back to 2023.

Police had earlier collected DNA samples from roughly 100 households within the affected complex to aid in the identification of victims.

The Wang Fuk Court fire, which began in Tai Po, engulfed seven residential blocks containing more than 1,900 apartments over a 43-hour period, making it the most destructive residential fire in Hong Kong in decades. Nearly 5,000 residents were left homeless.

All eight buildings in the complex were undergoing renovation at the time of the blaze, with bamboo scaffolding and mesh nets covering the exteriors and polystyrene foam boards used on windows, which investigators believe may have contributed to the rapid spread of flames.

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In response to the disaster, Hong Kong authorities announced a two-year annual rental subsidy of HK$150,000 (US$19,278) for displaced flat owners. Both owners and tenants are also receiving a one-off relocation subsidy of HK$50,000 to help cover immediate costs.

The fire at Wang Fuk Court has prompted renewed calls for stricter safety regulations in residential buildings, particularly during renovation projects, as investigators continue to determine the exact cause of the blaze.

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