A devastating fire at Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court complex has claimed more than 55 lives, marking the city's deadliest blaze in approximately three decades. The tragedy, which began on Wednesday afternoon in the Tai Po region, continued burning for over 24 hours as emergency crews struggled to contain the flames that engulfed the residential building undergoing renovations.
The Tragic Incident and Its Aftermath
The fire broke out on November 26 and remained uncontained until Thursday evening, with authorities fearing several residents remained trapped inside the burning structure. The complex was covered in bamboo scaffolding and construction materials when the fire ignited, creating perfect conditions for the rapid spread of flames throughout the building.
Eyewitness accounts and video footage showed flames racing up the bamboo scaffolding and protective mesh, quickly enveloping the entire facade of the high-rise residential tower. The intensity of the fire overwhelmed initial response efforts, leading to one of Hong Kong's most significant loss of life incidents in recent history.
Bamboo Scaffolding: Hong Kong's Construction Backbone
Bamboo scaffolding has been an integral part of Hong Kong's construction industry for centuries, with historical records indicating its introduction from mainland China during the 1930s. According to research by University of Hong Kong scholar Frankie Lee Hong La, the technique gained prominence during the 1960s and 1970s construction boom that saw the emergence of Hong Kong's iconic skyline.
Several factors contributed to bamboo's enduring popularity in Hong Kong's construction sector. The material offers significant advantages including lightweight properties, flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. Unlike most Western and Asian nations that transitioned to metal scaffolding, Hong Kong maintained this traditional approach due to its efficiency and the availability of skilled labor from mainland China.
The Hong Kong government has established specific regulations governing bamboo scaffolding use, mandating that only bamboo aged 3-5 years, air-dried vertically indoors for at least three months, can be employed in construction projects. The guidelines also specify safety requirements and worker qualifications to ensure proper installation and maintenance.
Fire Risks and Safety Concerns
Ehsan Noroozinejad, a Senior Researcher at Western Sydney University's Urban Transformations Research Centre, highlighted the inherent fire risks associated with bamboo scaffolding in his analysis for The Conversation. "Dry bamboo is combustible, and the green plastic mesh often draped over scaffolds can also quickly burn," he noted, describing exactly the conditions that contributed to the Wang Fuk Court tragedy.
The official guidelines do require protective screens to have fire-retardant properties, but implementation and enforcement remain challenging. An official memorandum earlier this year acknowledged bamboo scaffolding's weaknesses, including "variation in mechanical properties, deterioration over time and high combustibility," while advocating for a shift toward metal alternatives.
Statistical data from Hong Kong's Labour Department revealed 24 fatalities related to bamboo scaffolding between January 2018 and August 2025, raising questions about the material's safety record. Despite these concerns, proponents argue that accidents remain relatively rare and consider the technique an important part of Hong Kong's cultural heritage and construction identity.
Noroozinejad emphasized that the solution isn't simply declaring bamboo "good" or "bad" but understanding its appropriate context. "The lesson from Hong Kong is not that bamboo is 'good' or 'bad' for scaffolding – it's about context," he wrote, suggesting that while bamboo remains suitable for small-scale, ground-level projects, high-rise residential buildings require non-combustible systems with stronger fire controls.
As Hong Kong mourns its devastating loss, the tragedy at Wang Fuk Court has reignited critical conversations about balancing tradition with safety, cultural heritage with modern construction standards, and the urgent need to implement appropriate safety measures that protect residents while acknowledging the practical realities of urban development.
