Tragedy in Tai Po: Identities Confirmed After Hong Kong’s Deadliest Apartment Fire — And One Name Has Left an Entire Community in Shock
Hong Kong — In the gray stillness of dawn, as the acrid smell of smoke still lingered over Tai Po, officials released the first full list of victims from the catastrophic fire that tore through eight apartment buildings late Saturday night. What they revealed sent a shudder through Hong Kong and beyond: at least 44 people dead and 279 still missing, marking one of the darkest urban disasters the city has faced in decades.
But among the heartbreaking names, one stood out — not because of fame, but because of the painful reminder that tragedy does not choose its victims. Authorities confirmed that one of the missing is a close relative of rising basketball star Audi Crooks, a revelation that has brought waves of sorrow through both the athletic community and the public that follows her journey.
And as investigators dig through layers of collapsed concrete and melted metal, stories are emerging — stories of families separated, neighbors rushing through flames for one another, and quiet heroes whose names only come to light in moments like this.
Today, one of those names was finally confirmed.
A Fire That Should Never Have Happened
Residents say the blaze began shortly after 11:40 p.m. in Block E of the Shun Lai Complex, a decades-old cluster of apartment towers known for their cramped hallways, aging infrastructure, and frequent electrical outages. On Saturday, the malfunction that sparked the deadly inferno appeared to have started in a fourth-floor utility room — a place residents had complained about for months.
Within minutes, the fire barreled upward, swallowing floors as if fueled by a relentless wind. Then, as if choreographed by fate, it leapt sideways into neighboring buildings through smashed windows, ignited laundry racks, and raced up external wiring that had remained exposed despite repeated warnings.
By midnight, eight buildings were burning at once.
Firefighters who first arrived on the scene described the moment as “a nightmare of heat and sound,” with flames so intense that hoses evaporated water before it even touched the outer walls. Hundreds of residents were trapped inside — some clinging to balconies, some smashing windows for air, some trying to navigate stairwells filled with toxic black smoke.
It took six hours of nonstop work before crews were able to break open enough firebreaks to slow the spread. For many families, that was already too late.
A City Holds Its Breath
Hospitals across Hong Kong were inundated with victims suffering smoke inhalation, burns, and traumatic injuries from falling debris. Entire families arrived together — some intact, others missing members who never made it down the stairs.
Outside the scene, a crowd formed. Some stood wrapped in blankets. Some paced. Some stared into the charred skeletons of the buildings in numb disbelief. Others simply waited for the list — the list no one ever wants to see.
By sunrise, the first numbers arrived: dozens confirmed dead. Hundreds missing.
What followed was a slow, grueling process of matching names, identifying remains, and contacting next of kin. It was during this process that authorities contacted the family of Audi Crooks, informing them that one of their relatives — a young woman known among friends for her bright personality and tireless work ethic — had not been found among the rescued.
This morning, officials confirmed the worst.
She Was the One Who Always Stayed Late
The victim’s name is being withheld at the family’s request, but neighbors and coworkers have already begun sharing tributes. She was 27, an employee at a small logistics firm, and the kind of person who always volunteered for extra shifts so her colleagues could go home early.
“She was the one who always stayed late,” said a coworker. “If you needed help, she was the first person you called. She never complained. Not once.”
Friends say she had recently made plans to visit relatives abroad — including Audi Crooks — once her contract renewed in January.
Now, instead of preparing for a reunion, the family is preparing for a memorial half a world away.