Hong Kong fire death toll hits 168; dozens arrested for manslaughter, corruption

HONG KONG — The final death toll from a devastating November fire at a residential complex has risen to 168, officials announced Monday, marking the world’s deadliest housing fire since 1980.

Security Secretary Chris Tang confirmed that identification efforts are now complete. The updated figure is seven higher than previously reported for the blaze at the Wang Fuk Court complex in the Tai Po district.

The victims include 110 women and 58 men, ranging in age from 6 months to 98 years. Among the deceased are one firefighter and 10 migrant domestic workers.

City leader John Lee said police have arrested 16 people on suspicion of manslaughter and another six for fraud. Additionally, Hong Kong’s anti-corruption agency has detained 14 individuals suspected of bribery and graft.

While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, authorities believe substandard netting used during building renovations may have contributed to the rapid spread of the flames.

An independent commission, led by a judge, has been established to investigate the tragedy. Officials stated they will not release the identities of the victims out of respect for their families.

With 168 fatalities, the recent inferno—characterized as the deadliest urban blaze globally since 1980—presents a severe challenge to the Hong Kong administration’s reputation for urban management and building safety. Beyond the immediate human tragedy, the incident has metastasized into a crisis of public confidence, arriving after years of protracted political realignment in the territory.

The sweeping arrest of 36 individuals on charges ranging from manslaughter and fraud to corruption suggests that investigators are pursuing a theory of systemic institutional failure. The evidence points away from isolated negligence toward a broader pattern of organized malfeasance within the construction and regulatory sectors. Specifically, the use of substandard safety netting during building renovations serves as a stark indictment of the city’s current safety protocols and enforcement mechanisms.

For Chief Executive John Lee’s administration, the establishment of a judge-led independent commission of inquiry is a calculated yet high-stakes maneuver. The transparency and findings of this probe will be scrutinized by both domestic observers and the international community as a litmus test for governmental accountability. At a time when Hong Kong’s independent institutions face heightened global scrutiny, the outcome will define the administration’s commitment to transparency. Furthermore, the fact that ten migrant workers were among the deceased underscores the acute vulnerability of marginalized labor populations within one of the world’s most expensive and prohibitive real estate markets.

The incident underscores the persistent fire safety risks in Asia’s densely populated urban centers—a sobering reality for many Vietnamese Americans with family still in the homeland. For those in the diaspora, from the community hubs of Little Saigon to those supporting relatives through remittances, the precarious conditions of these crowded neighborhoods remain a constant source of concern for the safety of their loved ones.