Canadians with roots in Hong Kong have been watching in horror at information of the fireplace that tore by seven highrise towers within the Chinese language particular administrative area, leaving dozens useless and lots of lacking.
Vancouver resident Albert Wai Yip Chan, a former member of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, mentioned the fireplace threat within the metropolis’s tall buildings has all the time been a priority, particularly with many missing sprinkler techniques.
He’s been watching movies on-line of the blaze in his hometown, which confirmed giant flames and thick smoke engulfing the buildings.
Smoke rises after a fireplace broke out at Wang Fuk Courtroom, a residential property within the Tai Po district of Hong Kong’s New Territories on Wednesday, Nov. 26 2025.
AP Picture/Chan Lengthy Hei
“I want (the) injured folks might have a speedy restoration,” mentioned Chan, “It’s a tragedy.”
“We hope the federal government can enhance its property administration coverage. In any other case, I imagine such a downside will maintain occurring many times.”
Lots of of residents had been evacuated because the blaze unfold throughout a housing complicated within the Tai Po district, with a minimum of 44 folks reported useless and about 280 lacking.
The blaze, which began mid-afternoon on Wednesday, was upgraded to a level-5 — the best degree of severity regionally — and authorities mentioned that circumstances remained very difficult for firefighters.
International Affairs estimates there are about 300,000 Canadian residents in Hong Kong, making them the most important Canadian diaspora outdoors the US.
International Affairs Canada has not replied to a request about whether or not there are any Canadians who’ve died within the fireplace.
Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of Hearth Service operations, mentioned in a information convention that the particles and scaffolding of the affected buildings had been falling down, posing extra hazard to their entrance line personnel.
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“Apart from, the temperature contained in the buildings involved may be very excessive,” Chan mentioned. “It’s fairly tough for us to enter the constructing and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations.”
Chan mentioned the fireplace could possibly be one of many deadliest in Hong Kong’s historical past, bringing again reminiscences of the Garley Constructing fireplace in 1996 that killed 41 folks and injured about 81.
Aiken Lau, a former Hong Kong banker and now resident of Coquitlam, B.C., mentioned he remembered crying as a youngster in regards to the Garley Constructing fireplace, and the identical emotions are rising once more 29 years later.
Flames engulf a constructing after a fireplace broke out at Wang Fuk Courtroom, a residential property within the Tai Po district of Hong Kong’s New Territories, Wednesday, Nov. 26 2025.
AP Picture/Chan Lengthy Hei
Firefighters attempt to extinguish a flames engulfing a constructing after a fireplace broke out at Wang Fuk Courtroom, a residential property within the Tai Po district of Hong Kong’s New Territories, Wednesday, Nov. 26 2025.
AP Picture/Chan Lengthy Hei
“I left very heartbroken after I first noticed the information,” Lau mentioned. “Though I’ve been away from Hong Kong for greater than 20 years, I nonetheless have sturdy emotions for town, and I hate to see folks there struggling in ache.
“I hope the lacking folks could possibly be discovered as quickly as doable.”
Officers have mentioned the Tai Po fireplace began on Wednesday in exterior bamboo scaffolding on a 32-storey tower and later unfold due to windy circumstances.
Lau mentioned there are numerous questions in regards to the trigger and the way the lethal flames might have moved so shortly.
Conservative Richmond Centre — Marpole member of Parliament Chak Au additionally took to social media to specific his unhappiness, saying his coronary heart is with Hong Kong.
Au, who labored as an assistant professor on the Chinese language College of Hong Kong earlier than immigrating to Canada in 1988, mentioned in an interview that the information hit residence for him.
Au’s son is a firefighter with the Metropolis of Richmond, and the previous metropolis councillor additionally mentioned the placement of the Hong Kong blaze within the Tai Po district is near his former office.
“Tai Po district is just a number of stops away from the Chinese language College of Hong Kong, my former office, and it’s a really population-dense metropolis,” mentioned Au.
“My heartfelt condolences to all who misplaced family members — together with the firefighter who died within the line of responsibility — and my ideas are with the injured and the various households nonetheless ready for information of the lacking,” he added. “I additionally pray that extra survivors may be rescued.”
John Lee, Hong Kong’s chief govt, mentioned that the scenario on the scene is progressively getting underneath management, and a “holistic investigation” has been launched.
A number of native media retailers reported that police had arrested three males on suspicion of manslaughter in reference to the fireplace.
Lau mentioned all he’s hoping for is for the demise toll to cease climbing.
“Once I dug into the historical past of lethal fires in Hong Kong, the fireplace that occurred in Sham Shui Po in 1962 is the worst one, which has killed 44 folks and left lots of of individuals homeless, however I wasn’t born at the moment, and I didn’t know a lot of it,” mentioned Lau.
“I’m extraordinarily nervous that the most recent fireplace may break the report of 1962. It’s devastating.”
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with information from The Related Press
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