Hong Kong fire death toll rises to 168 in world's deadliest blaze since 1980

The final death toll from the devastating Wang Fuk Court fire in Hong Kong's Tai Po district is 168, seven more than previously announced. Security chief Chris Tang confirmed on Thursday that all remains have been identified and no one remains unaccounted for. The blaze, which tore through seven of eight high-rise towers on November 26, 2025, marks the world's deadliest residential building fire since 1980. Victims include 110 women and 58 men aged between six months and 98 years, with casualties covering a firefighter, two interior decorators, five construction workers, and 10 migrant domestic workers. Authorities noted the complex was undergoing renovations and wrapped in substandard netting that may have contributed to the fire's rapid spread. Police have arrested 16 people on manslaughter suspicions and six on fraud charges, while anti-graft watchdogs arrested 14 for suspected corrupt practices. An independent judge-led committee has been formed to investigate the tragedy. For context, the deadliest building fire in recent Nigerian history was the 2015 Kano Mosque inferno that killed 93 worshippers. What building safety measures should be mandatory for high-rises under renovation, especially in dense residential estates like those in Lagos or Abuja?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/01/15/final-death-toll-from-hong-kong-fire-put-at-168/