A devastating fire swept through multiple high-rise residential towers in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district on Wednesday, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 13 lives and reportedly leaving others trapped within the buildings.

The Hong Kong Fire Services Department received initial reports of the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, located in the northern New Territories, shortly before 3 p.m. The blaze quickly escalated in severity, reaching a No. 5 alarm, Hong Kong’s highest fire alarm rating, by 6:22 p.m.

According to a government statement, nine individuals were transported to the Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital for treatment.

Images captured on scene show flames consuming bamboo scaffolding across multiple structures within the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po, underscoring the fire’s intensity on November 26, 2025. (Photo by Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Flames engulf bamboo scaffolding across several buildings at Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Four people were pronounced dead and three were in critical condition. Another was listed as serious, and one was stable.

Tang Ping-keung, the secretary for security of Hong Kong, said one fireman died after sustaining injuries while battling the blaze.

“I am profoundly grieved at the passing of Mr Ho, who lost his life in the course of an operation. I offer my deepest condolences to his family members,” Tang said.

Firefighters work to extinguish flames engulfing bamboo scaffolding across multiple buildings at the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Photos from the scene showed the bamboo scaffolding of the towers engulfed in flames and thick, dark smoke pouring out of multiple floors.

Firefighters were working to extinguish the blaze, and one man was photographed in visible distress, saying his wife was trapped inside.

Wong, 71, reacts after claiming his wife is trapped inside Wang Fuk Court during a major fire in Tai Po, Hong Kong, on Nov. 26, 2025. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters)

Chan Kwong-tak, an 83-year-old retiree living in the community, told The South China Morning Post that the fire alarms failed to go off when the blaze broke out, even though the buildings were equipped with them.

“If someone was sleeping then, they were done,” he said.

Tai Po’s former district councillor, Herman Yiu Kwan-ho, also told the outlet that residents reported not hearing the fire alarms go off even after they detected the smell of smoke. He said they were only warned when a security guard knocked on their doors, giving them little time to get out.

The Tai Po District Office opened temporary shelters for people in need at the Kwong Fuk Community Hall and the Tung Cheong Street Community Hall.