The city's Leader Directs Investigation into Deadly Fire that Killed 151
The city's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 residents.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
Last Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting installed on the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.
No fewer than 13 people have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, including the directors of a construction company.
"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to guarantee all these loopholes are plucked," he said.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The fire—advancing with speed both upwards and across the separate towers—was finally put out by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it began, and necessitated in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.
That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the probe could take three to four weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
A number of occupants have reported they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the incident broke out. Local firefighters discovered that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.
Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended construction activities on three dozen private developments.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Additionally, officers took into custody a young man on allegations of subversion on Saturday. He was part of a group calling for an separate review into the fire. An digital signature drive gathered more than 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its information was removed.
Another two individuals, including a past council member, were also questioned by authorities, as reported by news outlets.
International Reaction
Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both condemned the reported arrests.
"This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the causes of the catastrophic blaze...rather than muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.
Background and Resident Profile
The residential complex was built in 1983 and had supplied nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 occupants, based on a 2021 government census.
Almost four in ten of its residents are believed to be older than 65 years of age. Some have lived in the subsidised housing estate from its inception.
Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on file killed 176 individuals in 1948 and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when over 600 people lost their lives.
