“This Was Preventable”: Anger Mounts After Hong Kong’s Deadliest Fire in Decades

Outrage is spreading across Hong Kong after a catastrophic fire tore through the Wang Fuk Court housing estate on Wednesday, killing at least 128 people and leaving dozens more in critical condition. As rescue operations come to an end and smoke continues to rise from the charred ruins, the community is demanding answers — and accountability.

Authorities now say the fire’s rapid spread was fuelled by substandard renovation materials, including mesh, plastic sheeting and styrofoam panels that had been installed on the exterior of buildings. These materials ignited easily and helped carry the flames upward and between blocks, creating what many residents have described as a “man-made disaster.”

A tragedy residents saw coming

A viral post circulating on local social media reads:
“This was not an accident.”

Several residents told reporters that no fire alarm sounded when the first flames broke out. On Friday, officials confirmed that fire alarms in all eight blocks were not functioning properly — and in some cases, had been switched off intentionally during ongoing renovation work.

Kiko Ma, a 33-year-old homeowner who lives in Canada but visits Hong Kong frequently, said the alarm system had been disabled because construction workers were routinely using emergency exits as passageways.

“This was preventable… A lot of people did not do their duties,” she told the BBC.
She added that the renovation company used “poor-quality, highly flammable materials” and that residents often found cigarette butts near their windows — evidence that workers were smoking on the scaffolding.

“Everyone kept asking what would happen if a fire started. People were scared. But no one did anything.”

The deadliest blaze since 1962

Wang Fuk Court, built in the 1980s, consists of eight 31-storey towers in Tai Po district. Seven of them burned. The subsidised apartments housed around 4,600 people, nearly 40% of whom were elderly.

Hong Kong’s fire department described extreme conditions during rescue attempts:
• soaring temperatures inside the buildings
• collapsing bamboo scaffolding
• narrow, overcrowded interiors that trapped residents
• smoke-filled stairways that were nearly impossible to navigate

The city is well-known for its tiny apartments — with public housing tenants averaging just 14 square metres of living space.

Hundreds of residents have now been relocated to temporary shelters as authorities assess the structural safety of the remaining towers.

Arrests and a widening investigation

Authorities have arrested three renovation contractors on suspicion of manslaughter. A corruption probe has also been launched into the bidding and approval process for the renovation project.

Residents say they raised concerns early on about unusually high renovation costs and a lack of transparency. Some described the project as “shady,” while others claimed elderly residents were pressured into supporting the plans through small favours.

Mr Lai, a resident, said this fire is part of a disturbing pattern in Hong Kong:
“Construction companies often prioritise cost-efficiency over safety. This is not the first scaffolding fire — and it won’t be the last if things don’t change.”

Just last month, a building in Central district caught fire after its bamboo scaffolding ignited.

Bamboo scaffolding under scrutiny

Experts believe the bamboo structures surrounding Wang Fuk Court acted as “ladders” for the flames. Bamboo scaffolding — iconic but highly flammable — has long been used across Hong Kong.

Earlier this year, authorities announced a gradual phase-out of bamboo in favour of fire-resistant steel. But for Wang Fuk Court, this change came too late.

Police are now examining whether mesh netting, plastic sheets and styrofoam panels used in the renovation met fire safety requirements. Initial findings suggest they did not.

Aftermath and calls for reform

Volunteers across the city are delivering food, water and supplies to displaced families. Others are providing therapy and emotional support at emergency shelters.

The government has ordered urgent inspections of all estates undergoing major repairs, but residents say these measures only highlight systemic failures that should have been addressed long ago.

For survivors, grief is now mixed with anger.

“This was preventable,” said one resident, staring at the burned remains of his home. “People died because others cut corners. That’s the truth.”