‘Some bodies have turned into ash’: Hong Kong police official describes site of Tai Po fire

Nearly a week after flames engulfed seven of the eight blocks in the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Hong Kong’s Tai Po neighbourhood, officials continue to try to locate and identify victims in the disaster zone. However, one police official said it may not be possible to find all of the missing, because “some of the bodies have turned into ash” during the fire that started on November 26, 2025. Outside the ruined complex, residents have paid tribute to those who lost their lives, turning a sitting area opposite the buildings into a makeshift altar.