The city's Leader Orders Probe into Tragic Blaze that Killed 151
The city's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that took a minimum of 151 people.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
Last Wednesday, most of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.
At least 13 individuals have been taken into custody over alleged culpable homicide, including the executives of a building firm.
"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in different stages. Hence we must act seriously to make certain all these deficiencies are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The blaze—that propagated rapidly both upwards and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it started, and necessitated in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.
The same day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. The government indicates the inquiry could take several weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
A number of occupants have stated they did not hear a emergency siren when the incident started. Hong Kong's fire service determined that alarms in each building were malfunctioning.
Hong Kong's buildings department has halted for now works on 30 private projects.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on charges related to subversion on Saturday. He was part of a group calling for an autonomous investigation into the blaze. An digital signature drive amassed over 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its page was taken down.
Two other people, among them a former district councillor, were also questioned by officers, per press accounts.
International Reaction
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the alleged detentions.
"This is the occasion for the city's officials to transparently investigate the causes of the tragic incident...instead of silencing those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.
Historical Context and Demographics
The residential complex was completed in 1983 and had supplied close to 2,000 units for some 4,600 occupants, based on a 2021 government census.
Almost four in ten of its occupants are thought to be over 65 years old. Several have resided in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.
The city's second-worst blaze on in history killed 176 people in 1948 and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in 1918, when more than 600 people died.
