How sad is the huge high-rise fire in Hong Kong?

[AviatorTom]

A high-rise apartment complex, several buildings, in the Tai Po area of Hong Kong, has a massive fire, and is reportedly still burning, hours after it started in the afternoon on Wednesday 26 November 2025. At least 14 people have died, including a firefighter.

In the picture, a 71-year old man is begging for help to find his wife, still trapped in the burning building.

How sad is this?

Here are some news stories about it...

ABC News - At least 13 dead as massive fire engulfs Hong Kong high-rise apartment buildings

NY Times - Live Updates: At Least 13 Are Killed as Fire Engulfs Hong Kong Apartments

Reuters - Fire engulfs Hong Kong residential building killing at least 14 people, trapping others

Updates

6 mo

Supposedly there was major renovation work being done. Hong Kong and China use bamboo scaffolding and it caught fire, then jumped to the buildings.

Updates

6 mo

More than 24 hours after the fire started, parts of the buildings are still on fire, death toll is approaching 100, more than 100 people have been injured and hundreds are still unaccounted for. This is very sad.

Several years ago, I spent a few years working on a rail project in Kong Kong and am familiar with this area.

[purplepoppy]

Has echos of the Grenfell tower fire. That was put down to builders using unregulated materials in the cladding and I suspect we're going to see the same thing here. Another case of people dying because one guy wanted a little extra profit

[AngryCarl2]

Exactly.

[Jessica405]

Sad, indeed! Reminiscent of Grenfell Tower in London, a few years ago.

[jshm2]

Meh, shit happens. Sure it's sad for the people involved, but you cannot pause the world just for the mistakes of the few.

[Shiprex]

It is incredibly sad.

I lived in HK for many years and have friends affected by this

[Shiprex]

@AviatorTom thanks for the MHO

[Friendlybro79]

I did not read about this and haven't gotten a chance to read any of the articles. This is so sad.

[AngryCarl2]

Yes, it's sad that poor people can't be safe in their own homes. But I'm more angry than sad, if I'm honest.

[DavyJ]

On a par with The Grendel disaster in London. A sad loss of life.

[DavyJ]

That should read Grenfell

[exitseven]

a real bummer , especially if you lived there.

[Jmmmfi4]

Shit happens