A deadly fire on November 26, 2025, at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, Hong Kong, claimed at least 156 lives, including 10 migrant workers. Two domestic helpers—Geralyn from the Philippines and Puji-Astutik from Indonesia—recounted their narrow escapes with their employers. Hong Kong's government has pledged financial aid to the victims' families.
On November 26, 2025, a massive fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court, a high-rise residential complex in Tai Po, Hong Kong, marking the worst blaze in 70 years. Within four hours, it spread to seven of the eight towers, killing at least 156 people, including one child, one firefighter, one Filipina named Maryan Pascual Esteban, and nine Indonesians. Of the 235 migrant workers present, 10 died, three were injured, and 30 remain missing.
Geralyn, a 43-year-old Filipina from Isabela who arrived in Hong Kong 18 months earlier, cared for a 19-month-old boy and his 67-year-old grandmother on the eighth floor of Wang Sun House. No fire alarm sounded, and windows were covered with styrofoam due to ongoing renovations. "She (popo) came back at 3:20 pm and told me we should leave," Geralyn said, as they rushed to the lift with the child and grandmother. "We are avoiding some overseas countries because of war, something like that. But then this happened in Hong Kong," she added, holding back tears.
Puji-Astutik, a 42-year-old Indonesian from Central Java working in Hong Kong for a decade, looked after her 80-year-old employer on the 25th floor of Wang Shing House. Returning from the market, she saw flames in the adjacent building. "When I saw the fire and the smoke, I remembered my employer was sleeping. So, I had to save her," she said, spending 10-15 minutes banging on the locked bedroom door to wake her. They escaped via the lift before black smoke filled their tower.
Bethune House executive director Edwina Antonio noted one helper who couldn't sleep after carrying a child down the stairs to safety, while another cried over leaving behind pets—a cat and turtle—that firefighters later rescued. On December 1, rescuers found more bodies, some incomplete or burned to ashes.
In a December 3 press conference, Hong Kong Labour Secretary Chris Sun announced that families of deceased migrant workers would receive HK$500,000 in statutory compensation, HK$200,000 one-off assistance, and an additional HK$50,000, totaling HK$800,000 or about US$102,700. The injured get HK$50,000, and survivors HK$20,000 plus HK$2,000. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed the Department of Migrant Workers to provide aid, including educational support for victims' children.