Hong Kong high-rise fire toll climbs to 128 as authorities widen arrests tied to renovation work

A deadly fire in a dense Hong Kong housing complex has claimed at least 128 lives, after emergency crews located additional victims while searching the upper floors of seven interconnected residential towers. Local officials say dozens of people are still unaccounted for as firefighters work through badly damaged units.

Authorities in Hong Kong have now arrested eight more individuals linked to renovation activity in the buildings, including scaffolding subcontractors and project managers. Investigators are examining whether construction materials – including bamboo scaffolding and foam insulation – contributed to the rapid spread of flames through the complex. Residents reported that fire alarms did not sound during the emergency, a failure expected to be part of the ongoing probe.

The towers are home to many older residents and low-income households, raising concerns about building oversight and safety standards in one of the world’s most densely populated cities. Canadian fire-safety researchers have previously noted that large multi-unit buildings with aging alarm systems pose elevated risks, a topic often discussed in Metro Vancouver and other urban centres with high-rise populations.

Hong Kong authorities declared the fire fully extinguished Friday morning, but recovery operations and investigations are expected to continue for several days.