The city's Leader Orders Probe into Deadly Blaze that Took 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 people.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
Last Wednesday, seven of eight residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.
A minimum of 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, comprising the senior figures of a construction company.
"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in different stages. Hence we must take decisive action to ensure that all these loopholes are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee.
Investigation and Aftermath
The blaze—which spread quickly both vertically and between the blocks—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it began, and took over 2,000 firefighters to contain.
The same day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the investigation could last approximately a month.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Multiple inhabitants have stated they did not hear a fire alarm when the blaze started. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that warning systems in every tower were not working effectively.
The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended works on 30 private projects.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Additionally, police reportedly detained a young man on suspicion of incitement on Saturday. He was involved with a collective demanding an independent inquiry into the blaze. An digital signature drive gathered over 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.
Another two individuals, among them a ex-local representative, were also detained by authorities, according to news outlets.
International Reaction
The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both condemned the reported arrests.
"The moment has come for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the devastating fire...instead of muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.
Background and Resident Profile
The residential complex was built in the early 1980s and had supplied close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, per a recent official survey.
Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are estimated to be at least 65 years of age. Several have been occupants of the government-supported development since it was built.
The city's second-worst blaze on in history claimed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was the result of a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when over 600 individuals perished.
