Hong Kong Experiences Series of Major Fires
On the afternoon of November 26, 2025, a sudden fire at Hung Fook Court in Tai Po shocked the entire city. The fire rapidly escalated from Level 1 to Level 5 within just 31 minutes, resulting in 44 deaths and 58 injuries. The data is still being updated...
Dry Climate
Hong Kong's unusually dry winter is unprecedented in recent years. Observatory data shows that on November 26, Hong Kong's lowest relative humidity dropped below 30%, with persistently strong winter winds carrying away every last drop of moisture from the air, making various flammable materials extremely flammable. The Hong Kong Observatory had already issued the highest level red fire danger warning on November 24.
In the Tai Po fire, the speed at which the fire spread caught even professional firefighters off guard. It took only a little over three hours for the fire to escalate to Level 5.
Following the investigation into the Tai Po fire, Hong Kong police quickly arrested three responsible persons from the property engineering company involved, including two directors and one engineering consultant, on suspicion of manslaughter. Preliminary investigations suggest that the building's fire protection system may have been improperly maintained, and that irregularities during the renovation work may have been the direct cause of the fire.
