United News of Bangladesh

The number of deaths from a massive blaze at a residential complex in Hong Kong has risen to 55, making it one of the city’s deadliest fires in recent decades, as firefighters continued battling the flames Thursday (November 27). Authorities reported that 51 victims were discovered at the scene, while four others died after being taken to hospitals. Dense smoke continued to billow from the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po, a northern district near mainland China. The fire began Wednesday afternoon and rapidly spread to seven of the development’s eight buildings. Officials said flames in four towers had been extinguished, while the remaining three were under control as of Thursday afternoon. The operation was expected to continue into the evening. A firefighter was among the fatalities, and more than 70 people were injured, many suffering burns and smoke inhalation. Resident Lawrence Lee anxiously awaited updates on his wife, who became trapped in their unit. He said she tried to escape when the fire started but was forced back by thick smoke filling the corridors and stairwells. Read more: Death toll in Hong Kong high-rise fire climbs to 36; 279 missing Winter and Sandy Chung, who lived in another tower, described seeing sparks as they fled. Though safe, they worried for their home. “I couldn’t sleep the entire night,” said 75-year-old Winter. Police arrested three men—directors and an engineering consultant from a construction company—on suspicion of manslaughter, accusing them of gross negligence. Officers later searched the offices of Prestige Construction & Engineering Company, which had overseen renovation work at the complex, and seized boxes of documents. Authorities suspect that some of the exterior wall materials failed to meet fire-resistance standards, contributing to the rapid spread. Police also discovered highly flammable Styrofoam attached near elevator lobbies in the unaffected tower, believed to have been installed by the construction company. Security Secretary Chris Tang said the materials would undergo further investigation. The fire is believed to have started on the external scaffolding of a 32-story tower before racing through bamboo scaffolding and construction netting, aided by strong winds. Fire crews used ladder trucks to target the flames, but rescue efforts were extremely challenging. Fire safety expert Alex Webb called the event “quite shocking,” noting that design regulations usually prevent fires from jumping between buildings. The materials used at the site, he said, could explain the unusual spread. Read more: Fire ravages Korail slum, leaving dwellers devastated amid water crisis Bamboo scaffolding, common in Hong Kong construction, has faced increasing scrutiny; officials previously announced plans to phase it out in public projects due to safety concerns. The housing estate, built in the 1980s and home to roughly 4,800 residents across eight towers and nearly 2,000 units, was undergoing major renovation. Around 900 people spent the night in temporary shelters, and Chief Executive John Lee said contact had been lost with 279 residents. Ongoing rescues continued into Thursday, though updated numbers were not immediately available. Lee announced immediate inspections of all residential estates undergoing renovations to ensure compliance with safety standards. Chinese President Xi Jinping extended condolences to the fallen firefighter and expressed sympathy to the victims’ families, according to state broadcaster CCTV, urging authorities to reduce casualties and losses. This marks Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in decades; the previous worst was in 1996, when 41 people died in a Kowloon commercial building fire that burned for about 20 hours. Read more: Death toll from Hong Kong tower fire rises to 44

Firefighters continued battling one of Hong Kong’s most deadly modern fires on Thursday (November 27), as flames ravaged multiple high-rise towers and at least 44 people were confirmed dead. Rescues remained ongoing, and three men from a construction company were arrested in connection with the blaze. Thick smoke continued to pour from the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po, a northern suburb near the mainland border. The fire, which erupted Wednesday afternoon, had spread across seven of the eight buildings, though four towers were reported under control by Thursday morning. At least 62 people were injured, many with burns or smoke inhalation, including one firefighter among the deceased. Police arrested three men — two company directors and an engineering consultant — on suspicion of manslaughter. “We have reason to believe that those in charge of the construction company were grossly negligent,” said senior superintendent Eileen Chung. Investigators suspect that some materials used on the exterior walls failed fire-resistance standards, which may have accelerated the spread. Styrofoam, highly flammable, was also found attached near elevators in one tower, likely installed by the company, though its purpose remains unclear. Read more: Fire forces evacuation at COP30 climate summit in Brazil The fire began on the external scaffolding of a 32-story building, spreading through bamboo scaffolding and netting, and then into other buildings, aided by strong winds. Firefighters battled the intense flames with ladder trucks, but high temperatures, falling debris, and unstable scaffolding hampered rescue operations. The complex houses nearly 2,000 apartments for about 4,800 residents, including many elderly people, and was undergoing major renovations. About 900 residents were evacuated, and 279 were reported missing as of midnight Wednesday. Rescues were ongoing into Thursday morning. Residents described harrowing moments. Lawrence Lee, waiting for news of his trapped wife, said smoke-filled corridors forced her back into their apartment despite attempts to escape. Hong Kong leader John Lee announced the government would focus on the disaster and pause campaigning for the Dec. 7 Legislative Council elections, though he did not confirm if the vote would be postponed. Chinese leader Xi Jinping expressed condolences to the firefighter who died and sympathies to victims’ families, urging measures to minimize further casualties. This fire is the deadliest Hong Kong has seen in decades, surpassing the 1996 Kowloon blaze that killed 41 people over 20 hours. Read more: Death toll in Hong Kong high-rise fire climbs to 36; 279 missing Source: AP

Thousands of residents in the capital’s Korail slum are struggling to come to terms with the aftermath of Tuesday’s devastating fire that reduced their homes and livelihoods to ashes.

Hong Kong’s deadliest fire in years blazed late into the night on Wednesday (November 26) as the city's leader confirmed at least 36 people, including a firefighter, had died and another 279 people were reported missing. Hundreds of residents were evacuated as the blaze spread across seven high-rise apartment buildings in a housing complex in Tai Po district, a suburb in the New Territories. At least 29 others remained hospitalized. “Police and the Fire Services Department have already set up a dedicated investigation team to investigate the cause of the fire,” John Lee, Hong Kong's chief executive, said. He said the fire was “coming under control” shortly past midnight. Read more: Left with ashes: Korail families lose everything in devastating fire Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday expressed condolences to the firefighter who died and extended sympathies to the families of the victims, according to state broadcaster CCTV. He also urged efforts to minimize casualties and losses. The housing complex consisted of eight buildings with almost 2,000 apartments housing about 4,800 residents, including many elderly people. The housing complex was built in the 1980s and has recently been undergoing a major renovation. Fire chiefs said high temperatures at the scene made it difficult for crews to mount rescue operations. It was not immediately known how the fire started, but officials said the fire started at the external scaffolding of one of the buildings, a 32-storey tower, and later spread to inside the building and then to nearby buildings, likely aided by windy conditions. A column of flames and thick smoke rose as the blaze spread quickly on bamboo scaffolding and construction netting that had been set up around the exterior of the buildings. About 900 people were evacuated to temporary shelters. Multiple buildings close to each other were set ablaze, with bright flames and smoke shooting out of windows as night fell. Authorities said that hundreds of firefighters, police officers and paramedics were deployed. Firefighters aimed water at the intense flames from high up on ladder trucks. The blaze, which started mid-afternoon, was upgraded a level 5 alarm — the highest level of severity — as night fell. Authorities said that conditions remained very challenging for firefighters. Read more: Gazipur coil factory fire under control “Debris and scaffolding of the affected buildings (is) falling down,” said Derek Armstrong Chan, deputy director of Fire Service operations. "The temperature inside the buildings concerned is very high. It’s difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations.” The fire department said that it received “numerous” calls requesting assistance. It said some residents remained trapped as of Wednesday night. Firefighters deployed more than 140 fire trucks and more than 60 ambulances to the scene. The dead included a 37-year-old firefighter, while another received treatment for heat exhaustion, Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung said. District officials in Tai Po have opened temporary shelters for people left homeless by the fire. “I’ve given up thinking about my property," a resident who only provided her surname, Wu, told local TV station TVB. "Watching it burn like that was really frustrating.” Tai Po is a suburban area in the New Territories, in the northern part of Hong Kong and near the border with the mainland Chinese city of Shenzhen. Bamboo scaffolding is a common sight in Hong Kong at building construction and renovation projects, though the government said earlier this year that it would start phasing it out for public projects because of safety concerns. The fire is the deadliest in Hong Kong in years. In November 1996, 41 people died in a commercial building in Kowloon in a level 5 fire that lasted for around 20 hours. Read more: Death toll from Hong Kong tower fire rises to 44

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Tuesday (November 25) expressed deep concern and sympathy after a devastating fire swept through the capital’s Korail slum, destroying a large number of homes and leaving many families displaced. He wished quick recovery for the injured and conveyed heartfelt sympathies to the affected families. “The suffering of the families who lost their homes in the Korail fire is a shared pain for all of us. The government will ensure all necessary support for their rehabilitation,” the Chief Adviser said in a statement. Fire ravages Korail slum, leaving dwellers devastated amid water crisis He said the authorities concerned have been instructed to immediately intensify rescue and relief operations. He also directed the relevant officials to investigate the cause of the fire and take effective measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

A massive fire swept through the Korail slum on Tuesday evening (November 25), leaving hundreds of residents scrambling for safety and destroying everything in its path. The blaze, which intensified rapidly, gave many slum families no chance to salvage their belongings. Amid the chaos, Rozina, a resident, broke down in tears on the roadside after fleeing her burning home. “I couldn’t save a single thing,” she cried. “Everything we owned—earned through so much struggle—burned to ashes. Why would Allah show us something like this?” she said before collapsing into sobs. Read more: Recent fire incidents highlight safety challenges in Bangladesh: Experts Another resident, Kamal, was seen running with a television on his head and a gas cylinder clutched in his hand. “These are the only two things I have saved,” he said breathlessly. “Everything else turned to dust before my eyes.” Amid the flames, schoolboy Rafi and his mother Rahima were spotted rushing out of their home with a heavy sack and two large bags. With the family’s male members away, the mother and son struggled to save what they could. “Our house caught fire too,” Rahima said. “This is the second fire we’ve faced in six years. We managed to escape with some belongings last time, but this time even our costly furniture couldn’t be saved.” Meanwhile, firefighters faced severe challenges in controlling the blaze due to an acute shortage of water. Water-carrying vehicles were delayed as they became stuck in traffic, forcing authorities to resort to an emergency alternative. Three generators were installed beside a nearby waterbody to pump water directly to the scene. Multiple hoses were connected to disperse water toward the burning structures, as firefighters battled to bring the flames under control. Read more: Gazipur coil factory fire under control Despite their efforts, the extent of destruction is expected to be significant, with hundreds of families now homeless and waiting for relief. Authorities have not yet confirmed the cause of the fire or the full scale of the damage. Earlier, Talha Bin Jashim, duty officer at the Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) headquarters media cell, said the fire originated from one of the shanties of the slum around 5:22pm. Fire Service and Civil Defence Director (Operations & Maintenance) Lt. Col. Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury said the flames are gradually decreasing. “We have strengthened our operations here, and nearly 20 units are now working at the scene,” he said. “We have managed to confine the fire. The next step is to identify the source of the blaze. We hope to share some good news within the next couple of hours. However, nothing can be said with certainty at this moment,” he added. Read more: Top Strategies to Enhance Fire Resilience in Dhaka City

The fire that broke out at a coil factory at Bagher Bazar in Rajendrapur of Gazipur district has been brought under control. The fire started at Finix Coil factory around 12:55 pm and spread to the adjacent godown and houses, said Talha Bin Jashim, an official of the Fire Service and Civil Defense (Media cell). Noticing smoke billowing from the factory, the workers tried to put the blaze under control but failed. On information, nine firefighting units rushed to the spot and brought the fire under control around 2:55 pm. The extent of  damages from the fire and its origin could not be known yet. No casualty was reported. Read more: Fire destroys landmark tower in Croatian capital

Miscreants set fire to three buses at different locations in Gazipur on Tuesday night (11th November 2025) and early Wednesday (12th November 2025), triggering panic among people. However, no casualties have so far been reported, according to fire service officials. The first incident occurred at dawn (Wednesday) when a group of unidentified people torched a bus parked on Dhaka–Tangail highway near Peyarabagan area of Bhogra Bypass. Being informed, firefighters from the Bhogra Modern Fire Service rushed to the spot and doused the flames. Bus torched after running over teenager in Sirajganj Around the same time, another group set fire to a minibus in the Beraid Chala area of Sreepur upazila of the district.  Fire service personnel from Sreepur Fire Service Station responded and managed to bring the fire under control. In a separate incident around 10pm on Tuesday, miscreants set a minibus ablaze at Chakrabarti along the Kaliakoir–Nabinagar highway, partially burning its seats. Mohammad Mamun, deputy assistant director of Gazipur Fire Service, said the Peyarabagan fire caused an estimated Tk 20 lakh in damages, while the Sreepur incident led to losses worth about Tk 10 lakh. Read more: 14 platoons of BGB deployed in Dhaka, adjoining districts

In a worrying continuation of recent arson attacks, miscreants set fire to four vehicles, including a private car, in different parts of the capital early Tuesday (11th November 2025), keeping residents on edge amid heightened tension across the city. According to the control room of the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters, the first incident occurred around 12:54 am when a bus of Rajdhani Paribahan was torched in the Rayerbagh area. Firefighters rushed to the scene and managed to bring the blaze under control before it could spread further. Shortly afterwards, around 2:03 am, a private car was set on fire near Bashundhara Gate in the Natun Bazar area. The incident disrupted movement in the vicinity, though no one was reported injured. Read more: Private university bus set on fire in front of Labaid Hospital in Dhanmondi Two more buses were set ablaze in quick succession — one belonging to Raida Paribahan near Kajla toll plaza in Jatrabari at 2:08 am, and another at Janapath intersection in Uttara around 4:00 am. Fire Service duty officer Rashed Bin Khalid confirmed that several firefighting units were dispatched promptly to all the affected locations to douse the flames. However, no casualties were reported in any of the incidents. The latest spate of arson follows a similar series of attacks on Monday (10th November 2025), when three vehicles were torched in Shahjadpur, Merul Badda and Dhanmondi areas of Dhaka. Read more: Driver burned to death as miscreants torch bus in Mymensingh

A bus driver was burned to death after unidentified miscreants set fire to a parked bus in the early hours of Tuesday (11th November 2025) at Bhalukjan Bazar in Phulbaria upazila of Mymensingh district. The victim was identified as Julhas Mia, 35, son of Saju Mia from Koiarchala village in the same upazila. He worked as a driver for Asia Paribahan. According to Md Rokonuzzaman, officer-in-charge of Phulbaria Police Station, a group of miscreants set the bus ablaze around 3:15 am.  Read more: Private university bus set on fire in front of Labaid Hospital in Dhanmondi At the time, Julhas was reportedly asleep inside the vehicle, which had been parked near a petrol pump after a day’s work. Upon receiving information, a unit of firefighters rushed to the scene and extinguished the flames. They later recovered the charred body of the driver from inside the burnt vehicle. “Police are investigating the matter seriously and a legal process is underway,” said the OC, adding that law enforcers are looking into possible motives and those responsible for the deadly attack. The gruesome incident has sparked tension in the locality, with residents expressing shock and concern over the growing incidents of arson in the region.  Read more: Two buses set on fire in Dhaka