Worker’s Cigarette Likely Sparked Hong Kong Inferno That Killed 168, Inquiry Finds
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The independent committee established for the fire at Wang Fuk Court held its first round of hearings on March 19 to hear evidence on matters listed in its terms of reference. Photo: CCTV News
A discarded cigarette butt from a construction worker was likely the source of the massive blaze at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court in November that killed 168 people, an independent commission of inquiry said at its first hearing Thursday.
Senior Counsel Victor Dawes, the lead lawyer for the independent committee, said evidence indicates the fire began when a lit cigarette landed on flammable debris piled in a lightwell, igniting one of the deadliest fires in the city’s history.
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- The Wang Fuk Court fire in Hong Kong on November 26, 2025, killed 168 people and burned for 43 hours; it was likely started by a construction worker's discarded cigarette.
- Non-fire-retardant scaffolding netting and other flammable materials contributed to the rapid spread; safety rules were routinely ignored, and prior complaints were not acted upon.
- A firefighter died during rescue efforts; the inquiry may lead to tighter regulations and possible prosecutions.
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What Happened When
- mid-2024：
- The 18-month renovation project at Wang Fuk Court began.
- September 2025：
- A typhoon damaged an initial batch of fire-retardant netting, prompting the contractor to order standard, non-resistant replacements.
- By November 2025：
- The renovation project was reported as being about five months from completion.
- November 26, 2025, between 2:33 p.m. and 2:43 p.m.：
- The fire at Wang Fuk Court started, likely caused by a discarded cigarette butt in a first-floor lightwell.
- 2:42 p.m., November 26, 2025：
- CCTV footage captured a worker saying, 'Who smoked here and set something on fire?' regarding the fire's possible ignition.
- November 26, 2025 (afternoon)：
- The blaze began to spread rapidly, ultimately engulfing seven of eight residential towers.
- November 26, 2025, seven minutes after last seen on camera：
- Firefighter Ho Wai-ho issued a distress call, saying he was trapped on the 30th floor.
- November 26, 2025, within the ensuing 43 hours：
- The fire burned for 43 hours, causing extensive damage and killing 168 people.
- Thursday, March 19, 2026：
- The commission of inquiry held its first hearing and presented findings on the causes of the fire.
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