How the Deadly Hong Kong Tower Fire Compares With Major Building Blazes Worldwide

How Does the Hong Kong Tower Fire Compare With Other Recent Major Building Blazes?

At least 94 people have died in a massive fire at a residential tower in Hong Kong—surpassing the death toll from London’s 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster.

Here’s how this tragic incident compares with several major residential and commercial building fires around the world in recent years:

Hanoi Apartment Block Fire, Vietnam, 2023 — 56 Deaths

In September 2023, a fire ripped through a nine-storey apartment building in Hanoi, killing 56 people, including 10 children. Several others were injured while jumping from windows or nearby rooftops to escape the flames.

Officials said the fire began after an electrical fault in a motorbike on the ground floor. The building’s landlord was later sentenced to 12 years in prison for fire safety violations and illegal construction.

The incident—Vietnam’s deadliest fire in two decades—prompted a nationwide tightening of fire safety rules.

Grenfell Tower Fire, UK, 2017 — 72 Deaths

The June 2017 fire at a 23-storey social housing block in one of London’s wealthiest districts was the deadliest residential blaze in the UK since World War II.

A total of 72 people died. Subsequent investigations revealed widespread use of highly flammable cladding on high-rise public housing across the country.

A public inquiry last year blamed systemic failures by the government, the construction industry, and, above all, the companies responsible for supplying the combustible cladding.

Colectiv Nightclub Fire, Romania, 2015 — 65 Deaths

In October 2015, fireworks used during a rock concert ignited non-fireproof insulation foam in a crowded Bucharest nightclub. The blaze killed 65 people and came to symbolize widespread corruption in Romania.

A stampede toward a single exit door added to the casualties. The club’s owners and a former mayor were later jailed after courts found that safety inspectors knowingly allowed the club to operate without a fire safety permit.

Kiss Nightclub Fire, Brazil, 2013 — 242 Deaths

One of the world’s worst nightclub fires occurred in southern Brazil in 2013, killing 242 people. Fireworks used by a band reportedly ignited the club’s ceiling.

Thick smoke quickly filled the packed venue, making it nearly impossible for the roughly 500 people inside to escape. Two club owners and two band members received long prison sentences.

Other nightclub fires in Buenos Aires (2004) and Rhode Island, USA (2003) claimed a combined total of nearly 300 lives.

Shanghai High-Rise Fire, China, 2010 — 58 Deaths

A 28-storey residential tower in Shanghai caught fire in November 2010 during renovation work, killing 58 people.

Investigators found that sparks from illegal welding ignited the scaffolding around the building.

Public outrage surged as residents accused authorities of lax enforcement of safety standards in a city that prides itself on being a modern financial hub. A year later, four former local officials were jailed for corruption and abuse of power.