The aftermath of the apartment complex fire in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on November 27, 2025.

This is a developing story The UAE has expressed its condolences and solidarity with China following a catastrophic apartment complex fire in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district that left at least 128 people dead and dozens injured. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed the UAE’s “sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims, and to the government and people of China,” while also wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. Firefighters continued battling the blaze for a second day on Friday (November 28), working through thick smoke and debris at the Wang Fuk Court high-rise complex, a dense cluster of towers housing thousands of residents. The death toll soared to 128, with 79 injuries and 89 bodies yet to be identified. An investigation into the cause of the deadly blaze is still ongoing but Security Chief Tang Ping-Keung attributes the rapid spread of the blaze to Styrofoam placed outside the windows of the apartment blocks. Fire alarms in all eight apartment blocks were not working effectively, authorities added.

Filipinos, Indonesians among missing

According to a non-government organization for migrant workers, 19 Filipinos and 11 Indonesians have been reported missing. The Mission For Migrant Workers said it believes 119 Indonesians and ⁠⁠82 Filipinos worked in the affected towers, and that at least two Indonesians who died have even identified so far. Hong Kong officials said contact was initially lost with 279 people on Thursday. Videos from the scene showed rescuers using flashlights to search darkened apartments while sporadic flames continued burning inside several units. Authorities said flames were first believed to have spread from bamboo scaffolding and construction netting on Wednesday afternoon before engulfing seven of the eight buildings in the estate. Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of Fire Services Operations, said emergency teams were working to complete the operation while preventing embers from reigniting. “Our firefighting operation is almost complete,” he said, noting that rescuers faced intense heat, falling debris, darkness and blocked access caused by collapsed scaffolding. More than 70 people were injured, including 11 firefighters, and about 900 residents were evacuated to temporary shelters. Pope Leo XIV sent a message expressing sadness over the tragedy and offering prayers for victims, families and emergency responders. Police arrested three men — two company directors and an engineering consultant — on suspicion of manslaughter. Authorities are investigating whether renovation materials, including highly flammable plastic foam panels found near elevator lobbies, contributed to the unusually rapid spread of the fire. Police also searched the offices of Prestige Construction & Engineering Company, which had been overseeing renovation work at the complex. Officials said bamboo scaffolding, common in Hong Kong construction, may have played a role in the escalation of the blaze. Hong Kong Chief Secretary Eric Chan said the government will discuss transitioning to metal scaffolding due to its higher flame resistance. Inspections of other housing estates undergoing renovation are underway to ensure compliance with safety standards. The fire is Hong Kong’s deadliest in decades, surpassing a 1996 blaze in Kowloon that killed 41 people. CAM/Expat Media
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