Abroad
Wang Fuk Court fire: Hong Kong begins 3-day mourning period for victims, flags flown at half-mast
As of 7am on Saturday, flames were still burning on an upper floor at one block of Wang Fuk Court.
November 29, 2025, 04:39 PM
An official three-day mourning period has begun in Hong Kong in remembrance of the 128 victims of the devastating Nov. 26 fire.
City in mourning for Hong Kong fire victims
Hong Kong chief executive John Lee led a group of senior ministers and top civil servants in observing a three-minute silence at 8am on Saturday morning, Nov. 29, outside the government headquarters, where the flags of China and Hong Kong were flown at half-mast.
Citizens were seen placing flowers near the charred shell of Wang Fuk Court, the residential complex that has been burning for close to two days.
As of 7am on Saturday, flames were still burning on an upper floor at one block of Wang Fuk Court.
Most of the dead were found in Wang Cheong House and Wang Tai House, where the flames were fiercer.
Around 200 people are still listed as missing and 89 bodies remain unidentified.
Among the dead included firefighter Ho Wai Ho, who collapsed at the scene of the fire before being taken to the hospital where he subsequently passed away.
Since the start of the blaze, over 800 Hong Kong firefighters have been working non-stop to contain the inferno.
On Nov. 28, Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong sent a condolence letter to Lee, expressing sympathy on behalf of the Singapore government over the tragedy.
PM Wong said he was "deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives", and expressed confidence in the city's fortitude and resilience in the face of adversity.
11 people arrested
11 people have been arrested in relation to the fire as of Nov. 29, according to South China Morning Post.
Preliminary investigations suggested that polystyrene, which is highly flammable, had been used around the buildings’ windows, leading to the fire’s unusually quick spread.
In addition, Hong Kong authorities have discovered that the protective material and mesh covering the exterior of the buildings, installed since renovations started in mid-July 2024, did not appear to be fireproof.
Those arrested included consultants, scaffolding subcontractors and middlemen of the project.
