Bamboo scaffolding helped build Hong Kong’s skyline, but deadly fire may hasten its end

By
The Associated Press in the Tribune India
November 28, 2025
Category: Wood, Paper & Green Building
Region: International

HONG KONG — While the exact cause of the deadly inferno that swept across a Hong Kong apartment complex was unknown, questions have been raised about the role of the bamboo scaffolding that enveloped the buildings at the time of the fire. The blaze, which has left at least 94 dead, has focused attention on the use of the ancient construction technique used for more than 1,000 years. Bamboo poles lashed together using wire and other strong materials are often found at construction sites in Asia, and the scaffolding is commonly seen around Hong Kong. Officials said Wednesday’s fire started on the external scaffolding of a 32-storey tower, spread to the inside of the building and then to six other towers, likely aided by windy conditions. …Whatever the outcome of the investigation into what caused the fire, the days of using bamboo in Hong Kong appear numbered.

Read More