At least 13 people have lost their lives after a major fire swept through several high-rise buildings in Hong Kong, leaving a community in mourning and hundreds displaced.

The blaze broke out around 2:51 p.m. local time at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po District, spreading rapidly across multiple residential towers. Early footage showed at least five buildings engulfed in flames, with thick smoke billowing across the skyline.

Authorities confirmed that one of the victims was firefighter Ho Wai-ho, 37, who collapsed while battling the blaze and later died at Prince of Wales Hospital.
Hong Kong’s Director of Fire Services, Andy Yeung, paid tribute to his fallen colleague:

“Having served for nine years, Mr. Ho’s dedication and courage were exceptional. We are deeply grieved by the loss of such a valiant fireman and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family.”

So far, 15 people have been reported injured, three of them in critical condition due to severe burns. The full number of those trapped or missing remains unclear, as firefighters continue search and rescue operations inside the affected buildings.

Officials believe the fire may have spread along bamboo scaffolding surrounding parts of the complex, though the exact cause is still under investigation.

A massive emergency response is underway, involving nearly 700 firefighters working to contain the flames and secure the area. Over 1,000 residents have been evacuated to nearby shelters.

Among them is Harry Cheung, a longtime resident of the estate:

“I heard a loud noise and saw smoke everywhere. I just grabbed what I could and ran,” he told Reuters. “Right now, I’m just wondering where we’ll sleep tonight.”

Wang Fuk Court, first occupied in 1983, houses roughly 4,600 residents under Hong Kong’s subsidized homeownership scheme.

As the city begins to assess the damage, grief mingles with gratitude — for the neighbors who helped one another, the rescue teams who risked everything, and the quiet resilience that begins, even now, in the ashes of loss.