The city's Leader Directs Probe into Deadly Fire that Killed 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 people.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
Last Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting used around the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.
A minimum of 13 individuals have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, including the executives of a building firm.
"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. That is exactly why we must take decisive action to guarantee all these deficiencies are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The fire—which spread quickly both vertically and across the separate towers—was finally put out by the end of the week, approximately two days after it began, and necessitated over 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.
That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the investigation could last several weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Multiple inhabitants have said they did not hear a fire alarm when the blaze started. Hong Kong's fire service found that alarms in every tower were malfunctioning.
The relevant regulatory body has halted for now renovation projects on three dozen private developments.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on allegations of incitement on Saturday. He was among a group calling for an separate review into the tragedy. An digital signature drive amassed more than 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its information was removed.
A pair of additional persons, including a former district councillor, were also taken in by authorities, as reported by news outlets.
Global Response
Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both denounced the alleged detentions.
"Now is the time for the city's officials to transparently investigate the causes of the tragic incident...as opposed to muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.
Historical Context and Demographics
The housing estate was built in 1983 and had provided 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 occupants, per a recent official survey.
Almost four in ten of its occupants are thought to be over 65 years of age. Some have lived in the public housing complex since it was built.
Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on record killed 176 people in 1948 and was caused by a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when in excess of 600 people lost their lives.
