Tai Po fire death toll confirmed at 168 following forensic analysis; victims aged between 6 months and 98 years old - Hong Kong Free Press HKFP

The deadly Tai Po fire claimed 168 lives, Hong Kong authorities have confirmed, with the youngest victim just six months old. Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, pictured on November 28, 2025, in the aftermath of the fatal blaze. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. Secretary for Security Chris Tang said on Thursday that the death toll, which previously stood at 161, has been revised following a forensic analysis of the victims’ teeth and DNA. “All human remains from this incident have now been identified,” Tang told reporters in Cantonese. “There are no more bodies that are still unidentified.” All previously missing persons had also been accounted for, the security chief said. “168 is the final figure,” Tang added. In a press statement released on Thursday evening, authorities said there were 58 males and 110 females among the dead. The youngest victim was six months old, while the oldest was 98. The families of the victims have confirmed the identities of their deceased relatives, the statement added. Secretary for Security Chris Tang. File photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The victims included 37-year-old firefighter Ho Wai-ho, two interior repair workers, five construction workers, and 10 domestic workers. Earlier this week, local media reported that the authorities may release the names of those who died in the fire, including their ages and sex. Tang said on Thursday that the government does not plan to do so, honouring the wishes of victims’ families. Information relating to the victims will be disclosed if the Coroner’s Court decides to conduct an inquest, he added. Death inquests are heard at the Coroner’s Court in situations such as when the death is suspicious, accidental or sudden. The coroner may make recommendations on preventing similar fatalities in future, such as in cases of industrial accidents, to bring attention to “deficiencies in a system,” according to the Judiciary. A child leaves flowers for victims of the Tai Po fire in November 2025. Photo: Kyle Lam/HKFP. The fire at Wang Fuk Court in November was Hong Kong’s deadliest in decades, burning for over 40 hours and displacing thousands. Seven out of eight of the housing estate’s building’s caught fire. At the time of the blaze, the estate had been undergoing large-scale renovation for more than a year. Authorities believe that the rapid spread of the flames was exacerbated by foam boards and construction netting that failed to comply with fire safety standards. The tragedy put a spotlight on pervasive bid-rigging practices in Hong Kong’s renovation industry. Such practices involve collusion in tendering for renovation projects, allowing construction contractors to make high profits while potentially overlooking safety hazards. Safeguard press freedom; keep HKFP free for all readers by supporting our team ShareCopied to clipboard Facebook X Bluesky LinkedIn WhatsApp Mail Print Support HKFP  |  Policies & Ethics  |  Error/typo?  |  Contact  |  Newsletter  | Transparency & Annual Report | Apps HK$150 HK$250 HK$500 Other per month Recurring donors unlock 8 benefits: Members get a free HKFP deer keyring or tote; ad-free browsing and no pop-ups; full access to HKFP Monitor, exclusive Tim Hamlett opinion columns; HKFP feature previews; 15% off all merch; Editor’s Blogs; and early access to our Annual/Transparency Report. Activate monthly membership Make a one-off donation. Hans TseReporter Hans Tse is a reporter at Hong Kong Free Press with an interest in local politics, academia, and media transformation. He was previously a social science researcher, with writing published in the Social Movement Studies and Social Transformation of Chinese Societies journals. He holds an M.Phil in communication from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Before joining HKFP, he also worked as a freelance reporter for Initium between 2019 and 2021, where he covered the height - and aftermath - of the 2019 protests, as well as the sweeping national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020. More by Hans Tse