2nd December 2025 UPDATE

The latest confirmed death toll from the Wang Fuk Court fire in Hong Kong is 146, as reported on Monday, December 1, 2025. This figure includes 18 additional bodies discovered on Sunday, November 30, 2025, bringing the total from the previous count of 128. Authorities caution that the death toll may still rise, as there are still 150 people missing, including 44 whose identities remain unknown. The fire, which began on November 26, 2025, at 14:51 HKT, burned for 43 hours and 27 minutes before being extinguished on November 28.

Yes, the use of bamboo scaffolding poses a significant fire risk, particularly in high-rise buildings undergoing renovation. The recent deadly fire in Hong Kong’s Tai Po district, which killed at least 128 people and left many missing, has highlighted this danger, with reports indicating that the bamboo scaffolding and associated green mesh acted as a conduit for the rapid spread of flames across multiple buildings. Dry bamboo is combustible, and the plastic mesh often draped over scaffolds can also burn quickly, allowing fires to climb vertically and spread horizontally across building facades. Experts and officials have called for a shift to non-combustible alternatives like metal scaffolding, especially on occupied towers, to mitigate such risks.

The fire at the Wang Fuk Court estate, which began on November 26, 2025, rapidly engulfed seven out of eight residential blocks, with flames spreading swiftly along the bamboo scaffolding and green mesh covering the buildings.

Authorities and fire safety experts have pointed to the flammability of bamboo and the mesh as key factors in the fire’s rapid escalation, with some comparing the scenario to the Grenfell Tower fire due to the role of external cladding in fire spread.

While bamboo scaffolding is valued for its cost-effectiveness, speed of installation, and adaptability in Hong Kong’s dense urban environment, its fire risk has led to calls for stricter regulations, including the use of flame-retardant nets, treated bamboo, and mandatory breaks in scaffolding to prevent fire jumping between bays.

The Hong Kong government has already initiated a partial phase-out of bamboo scaffolding in public works projects, mandating metal scaffolds for at least 50% of new government contracts, signaling a move toward safer, non-combustible systems.

“Were there any wealthy, billionaire ‘elites’ living in these buildings?”

No, there were no billionaire elites living in the Wang Fuk Court buildings. The complex is a subsidised home-ownership housing estate under Hong Kong’s public housing framework, designed for middle- and lower-income residents. Built in 1983, it consists of eight 31-storey blocks with nearly 2,000 units, primarily occupied by ordinary residents rather than wealthy individuals. According to demographic data, the median monthly household income in the area is around HK$24,680, and the estate is not associated with luxury or high-end real estate.

Wang Fuk Court, housing estate

Wang Fuk Court demographics

“At their properties, would billionaire ‘elites’ use an alternative method of scaffolding with no risk / a reduced fire-risk attached to it…?”

Yes, billionaires and luxury property owners typically use non-combustible scaffolding alternatives such as metal (steel or aluminum) scaffolding or advanced composite systems that significantly reduce fire risk. Unlike bamboo, which is highly flammable, these materials are standard in high-end construction and renovation for their durability, safety, and compliance with strict fire regulations.

In addition, luxury properties may employ aesthetic and functional scaffolding alternatives like the Urban Umbrella™ system, which uses fire-resistant, modular, and visually appealing structures that protect pedestrians while maintaining brand image and storefront visibility during renovations.

“What is preventing the property construction / maintenance industry from investing in safer steel / aluminium scaffolding when working on poorer people’s dwellings?”

The primary barriers to adopting safer aluminum scaffolding in lower-income housing in Hong Kong are cost, tradition, and economic feasibility. Bamboo scaffolding costs about HK$100/m², roughly half the price of metal alternatives (~HK$210/m²), making it highly attractive for budget-constrained public and private renovation projects. It is also six times faster to erect and 12 times faster to dismantle, reducing labor time and disruption in densely populated areas.

Additionally, bamboo scaffolding is deeply embedded in Hong Kong’s construction culture, with a skilled workforce of “bamboo spiders” trained in traditional techniques. Transitioning to metal requires retraining, new equipment, and higher upfront investment, which many contractors—especially on low-margin public housing jobs—are reluctant to bear.

While the Hong Kong government has mandated metal scaffolding in at least 50% of new public works contracts since March 2025, private and maintenance projects on older, lower-income housing still commonly use bamboo due to cost pressures and regulatory allowances. Although safer, aluminum systems remain less accessible for economically sensitive projects.

“If it turns out that hundreds of people have died foreseeably and avoidably and that the presence of the bamboo scaffolding exacerbated the spread of the flames at the Wang Fuk complex, causing even more deaths, will the private contractors be forced into saving lives by adopting new methods of working, investing in non-combustible metal scaffolding and retraining their workers?”

Yes, in the aftermath of the Wang Fuk Court fire—now confirmed as Hong Kong’s deadliest residential fire in over 60 years with at least 55 confirmed deaths and hundreds missing—the government has announced it will completely phase out bamboo scaffolding and transition to metal alternatives across all construction projects. This marks a significant policy shift from the previous March 2025 directive, which only required metal scaffolding in 50% of public works.

Private contractors will face stricter enforcement, including:

Immediate inspections of all ongoing projects using scaffolding.

Mandatory use of fire-retardant materials in protective nets and mesh.

Criminal investigations and prosecutions for safety violations—already, three individuals (two directors and a consultant from the renovation contractor) have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

A government task force probing potential corruption and regulatory failures in the Wang Fuk Court renovation.

The disaster has made it politically and ethically untenable to continue using flammable bamboo scaffolding on occupied buildings, especially in densely populated areas. Contractors will be required to retrain workers and adopt safer metal systems, supported by government transition measures.

“If all of this was both foreseeable and avoidable, why was it permitted to happen? Why were those innocent people allowed to die?”

The tragedy was permitted to happen due to a combination of regulatory leniency, cost-driven decisions, and systemic failures in enforcement, despite known risks. Although the Hong Kong government acknowledged bamboo scaffolding’s “high combustibility” and began phasing it in for 50% of public projects in March 2025, the full ban was delayed—leaving older, densely populated housing estates like Wang Fuk Court vulnerable.

Crucially, the fire likely spread due to flammable plastic mesh and sealant materials, not the bamboo itself, which retained moisture and remained yellow after burning—indicating it did not ignite fully. Yet, safety protocols were ignored: non-compliant, non-fire-retardant nets were used, windows were sealed during renovation (trapping residents), and alarms were muffled.

Industry resistance to change, rooted in tradition and cost, combined with inadequate oversight, allowed dangerous practices to continue. Now, with at least 55 dead and criminal charges filed against contractors, the government has announced a complete phase-out of bamboo scaffolding, acknowledging that the disaster was both foreseeable and preventable.

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19:00 on 28th November 2025. Update

As of Friday, November 28, 2025, the confirmed death toll from the Wang Fuk Court fire is at least 128, with nearly 300 people still missing. While the current official count has not reached 300, authorities have not ruled out a significant rise in fatalities. Given the scale of destruction, the high number of unaccounted individuals, and the difficulty accessing upper floors due to extreme heat and structural damage, it is possible the death toll could exceed 300 as search and recovery operations continue.

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