Overview
- Officials classified the Tai Po blaze as a No.5 alarm, with the fire reported on the ground floor of Wang Cheong House in Wang Fuk Court.
- Firefighter Ho Wai-ho, 37, arrived around 3:01 pm, lost contact at about 3:30 pm, was found with severe facial burns, and was pronounced dead at Prince of Wales Hospital at 4:45 pm.
- As of Thursday evening, authorities reported at least 65 deaths and 76 people hospitalised, with full-scale rescue operations continuing.
- Some outlets have cited higher provisional death tolls reaching into the 80s and 90s as searches and accounting continue.
- Free Press Journal reported that construction company bosses were arrested on manslaughter charges, a development not yet confirmed by official authorities.