The city's Leader Directs Probe into Deadly Blaze that Killed 151
Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 individuals.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
On Wednesday last week, most of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting installed on the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.
At least 13 suspects have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, comprising the executives of a construction company.
"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in different stages. That is exactly why we must act seriously to guarantee all these gaps are addressed," stated the leader.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The fire—advancing with speed both upwards and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it started, and necessitated in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.
On that day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the probe could last several weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
A number of occupants have reported they failed to hear a emergency siren when the fire broke out. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that alarms in every tower were malfunctioning.
The relevant regulatory body has temporarily suspended construction activities on 30 private projects.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Additionally, officers took into custody a individual on suspicion of subversion on the weekend. He was part of a collective petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An online petition amassed over 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its information was removed.
Two other people, including a ex-local representative, were also detained by officers, per local media reports.
Global Response
The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both condemned the alleged detentions.
"Now is the time for the local government to openly examine the reasons of the tragic incident...as opposed to suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.
Historical Context and Demographics
Wang Fuk Court was completed in the early 1980s and had offered close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 occupants, per a 2021 government census.
Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are believed to be older than 65 years old. A number have resided in the public housing complex since its construction.
Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on file claimed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was the result of a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in 1918, when in excess of 600 people died.
