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Death Toll in Hong Kong High-Rise Fire Rises to 159 as Scammers Target Grieving Public

Published: Dec. 4, 2025 3:58 a.m. GMT+8

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A student brings floral tributes for victims of the fire at Wang Fuk Court residential estate in Tai Po district in Hong Kong on Nov. 28, 2025. Photo: Bloomberg

The death toll from the massive blaze that engulfed a residential complex in Tai Po has risen to 159, with 31 people still unaccounted for, Hong Kong police confirmed on Wednesday.

Authorities completed their search of all seven buildings in the Wang Fuk Court complex eight days after the fire broke out. Police Commissioner Joe Chow Yat-ming said some structural walls had been burned down to bare steel bars and entire ceilings reduced to ash. He warned that some victims may have been incinerated beyond recovery, leaving no remains for identification.

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The Tai Po residential fire death toll reached 159, with 31 people still missing; searches of all seven buildings are complete.
Police arrested two suspects for fake donation scams and another man for pretending to be a fire victim, defrauding HK$25,500.
Authorities warn of ongoing scams and advise donating only via official channels; DNA testing and further searches are underway.

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What Happened When

November 29, 2025：: Police were alerted to a fake fundraising website mimicking a legitimate social welfare organization, which falsely claimed to collect donations for a 'Fire Relief Fund'.