Hong Kong apartment fire death toll climbs to 159

3 Dec 2025 • 11:48 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • The death toll from a devastating high-rise apartment fire in Hong Kong has climbed to 159.
  • Six individuals have been arrested on suspicion of deactivating crucial fire alarms during maintenance work at the Wang Fuk Court complex.
  • The blaze, which took until Friday to extinguish, occurred in the northern suburban district of Tai Po, with about 30 people still unaccounted for.
  • Authorities said substandard netting on scaffolding and foam boards on windows contributed to the rapid spread of the fire, which occurred during a month-long renovation project.
  • The initial cause of the catastrophic fire remains under investigation, with 19 bodies yet to be identified among the victims, who range from a one-year-old infant to a 97-year-old.

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