13 people arrested for suspected manslaughter after Hong Kong residential complex fire

A building in Wang Fuk Court is pictured after a fire broke out here in Tai Po, Hong Kong, south China, Nov. 27, 2025. The Hong Kong Police Force had arrested 13 people for suspected manslaughter over the major fire at the residential complex Wang Fuk Court, local authorities said at a press briefing on Monday. The police investigation is still ongoing, and there could be more arrests. Seven of 20 samples of construction mesh collected from the complex failed to meet fire-proof standards, authorities said. These pieces of mesh sheets, coupled with highly flammable polyurethane foam, might have caused the rapid spread of the fire, according to local authorities. (Xinhua/Chen Duo)

HONG KONG, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Police Force had arrested 13 people for suspected manslaughter over the major fire at the residential complex Wang Fuk Court, local authorities said at a press briefing on Monday.

The police investigation is still ongoing, and there could be more arrests.

Seven of 20 samples of construction mesh collected from the complex failed to meet fire-proof standards, authorities said.

These pieces of mesh sheets, coupled with highly flammable polyurethane foam, might have caused the rapid spread of the fire, according to local authorities.

This photo taken on Nov. 27, 2025 shows pieces of mesh sheets in Wang Fuk Court after a fire broke out here in Tai Po, Hong Kong, south China. The Hong Kong Police Force had arrested 13 people for suspected manslaughter over the major fire at the residential complex Wang Fuk Court, local authorities said at a press briefing on Monday.

The police investigation is still ongoing, and there could be more arrests.

Seven of 20 samples of construction mesh collected from the complex failed to meet fire-proof standards, authorities said.

These pieces of mesh sheets, coupled with highly flammable polyurethane foam, might have caused the rapid spread of the fire, according to local authorities. (Photo by Wang Shen/Xinhua)