Canadians with ties to Hong Kong are expressing deep shock and sorrow as they follow news of a catastrophic highrise fire in the Tai Po district that tore through seven residential towers, leaving at least 44 people dead and nearly 300 missing. Videos circulating online show flames engulfing the buildings and thick smoke billowing across the skies, prompting widespread concern among the large Hong Kong-Canadian community.
Vancouver resident Albert Wai Yip Chan, a former member of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, said fire safety in the city’s towering residential blocks has long been a major worry, especially in buildings that lack sprinkler systems. Watching footage of the blaze unfold, Chan called the situation tragic and urged authorities to overhaul property-management policies to prevent future disasters.
Hundreds of residents were evacuated as firefighters battled the rapidly spreading flames, which ignited Wednesday afternoon and were quickly escalated to a level-5 emergency — Hong Kong’s highest severity rating. Global Affairs Canada estimates that about 300,000 Canadians currently live in Hong Kong, the largest Canadian expatriate community outside the United States. The department has not yet confirmed whether any Canadians are among the victims.
Fire Service operations deputy director Derek Armstrong Chan described the intense challenges confronting emergency crews, noting that falling scaffolding, dangerous debris and extreme heat have made it nearly impossible to enter the upper floors for rescue operations. Officials warn the tragedy could become one of the deadliest fires in Hong Kong’s history, evoking memories of the 1996 Garley Building fire that killed 41 people.
In Coquitlam, B.C., former Hong Kong banker Aiken Lau said news of the fire reopened emotional wounds from the Garley tragedy nearly three decades ago. Though he left Hong Kong more than 20 years ago, Lau says his connection to the city remains strong and that he is devastated to see so many people suffering. He hopes the missing can be found quickly and that answers about the fire’s cause emerge soon.
Authorities believe the blaze began in bamboo scaffolding on the exterior of a 32-storey tower and spread rapidly due to strong winds. Questions are now mounting about how the flames moved so fast and whether safety lapses contributed to the scale of destruction.
Richmond Centre—Marpole MP Chak Au also expressed grief, noting that the fire occurred close to his former workplace at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. With a son who works as a firefighter in Richmond, Au said the tragedy hit especially close to home. He offered condolences to families mourning loved ones, including the firefighter who died in the line of duty, and prayed for survivors.
Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said the situation is slowly coming under control and has ordered a full investigation. Several local media outlets report that police have arrested three men on suspicion of manslaughter in connection with the incident.
As the death toll threatens to rise, members of the Hong Kong diaspora in Canada are bracing for more painful news. Many fear this disaster could surpass the 1962 Sham Shui Po fire — one of the deadliest in the city’s history — which killed 44 people and left hundreds homeless.