A somber atmosphere envelops Hong Kong as the city marks a period of official mourning, following the devastating apartment fire on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. By Wednesday, December 3, the death toll had reached 159 people, with approximately 30 individuals still unaccounted for. This incident has become the deadliest fire in Hong Kong in over seventy years.
The fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po resulted in casualties from various sectors of Hong Kong society, including seven Indonesian migrant workers, a Filipina domestic helper, a firefighter aged 37 who perished while rescuing others, and numerous elderly residents of the eight-tower complex.
The Filipino consulate in Manila identified the deceased Filipina as Maryan Pascual Esteban. She is survived by her 10-year-old son and family in Cainta, Rizal. Esteban, like many migrant workers, had chosen to work in Hong Kong to support her family from afar.
The impact of the tragedy extends beyond those directly killed. The public housing estate housed over 4,000 people, many of whom were over 65. Numerous residents are now displaced, residing in temporary shelters or hotels as they come to terms with their situation.
Joey Yeung, 28, visited the site of her grandmother’s burned apartment to lay flowers with her family. “I can’t accept it,” she told reporters. “I’m not asking to get anything back, but at least give some justice to the families of the deceased – to those who are still alive.”
Throughout the weekend, Victoria Park was filled with the sounds of mourning as migrant workers gathered to remember the victims and pray for the missing. Prayer vigils were conducted citywide, uniting communities in grief.
Sudarsih, an Indonesian worker in Hong Kong for 15 years, expressed concern for her two missing friends. “God bless, they will be found quickly and are safe,” she said. Another Indonesian worker, Dwi Sayekti, 38, shared her hope through tears that this would be the first and last such disaster.
Jeffery Chan, a civil servant, captured the collective sorrow of the city: “As a Hong Konger, seeing people in the place where we live lose their families, lose everything in just one night – if you put yourself in their shoes, it is unbearable. They need encouragement, support, and help from the people of Hong Kong.”
The fire began around 3 p.m. Wednesday at Wang Cheong House, a 105-foot building undergoing renovations. The flames quickly spread to six surrounding towers. Many residents were trapped in their apartments, with extreme heat blocking firefighters’ rescue efforts despite knowing where individuals were located.
The structures were covered with bamboo scaffolding and safety netting due to renovations, with windows blocked by polystyrene panels. Some fire alarms in the complex failed during post-fire testing, leading to urgent inquiries about safety lapses.
Andy Yeung, Director of the Fire Services Department, honored the fallen firefighter. The 37-year-old had been in service for nine years before collapsing at the scene and dying later in the hospital.
The disaster has severely impacted Hong Kong’s migrant worker community. More than 50 survivors have sought assistance from the Asian Migrants’ Coordinating Body, said spokeswoman Shiela Tebia, noting the urgent need for clothing and replacement of burned ID cards and passports.
Tebia mentioned that the survivors are still coping with the aftermath and some struggle with sleep and trauma. Despite their condition, they feel compelled to support their grieving employers.
The government has offered HK$200,000 (approximately $25,700) to the families of each deceased victim, though advocates call for more aid for survivors who have lost everything. Edwina Antonio, executive director at Bethune House migrant women’s refuge, urged officials to include migrant workers in financial aid programs, highlighting their role as primary family earners.
On Saturday morning, Hong Kong observed a three-minute silence, with flags at half-mast citywide. Residents queued to sign condolence books in all 18 districts, and a continuous stream of mourners placed flowers at the memorial near the burnt towers.
The Hong Kong police Disaster Victim Identification Unit continues its detailed search through the buildings, discovering bodies in apartments and on rooftops. The search is slow, especially in darker areas away from windows.
At least 11 individuals have been arrested in relation to the fire, including directors of construction companies and managers of renovation projects, as investigations probe potential breaches of safety regulations.
For now, the city remains in mourning, unified in sorrow and hopeful that such an event will not recur.
