The city's Chief Executive Orders Probe into Fatal Inferno that Claimed Lives of 151
The city's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that claimed the lives of 151 people.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
On Wednesday last week, most of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.
No fewer than 13 people have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, comprising the executives of a contractor.
"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these gaps are eliminated," he said.
Investigation and Aftermath
The blaze—which spread quickly both vertically and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it started, and required more than 2,000 firefighters to subdue.
That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the probe could take several weeks.
Systemic Failures Identified
Multiple inhabitants have reported they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the fire started. Local firefighters found that detection devices in every tower were operating inadequately.
The city's construction authority has put on hold works on three dozen private developments.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on allegations of subversion on the weekend. He was part of a collective calling for an independent inquiry into the blaze. An internet-based appeal gathered more than 10,000 supporters in less than a day before its information was removed.
Another two individuals, comprising a former district councillor, were also questioned by police, according to local media reports.
International Reaction
The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both criticised the alleged detentions.
"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to silencing those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.
Background and Resident Profile
Wang Fuk Court was completed in 1983 and had offered 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 residents, based on a 2021 government census.
Almost four in ten of its occupants are believed to be older than 65 years old. Some have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate from its inception.
Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on record killed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was the result of a detonation at street level at a commercial building. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when over 600 people perished.
