Hong Kong Chief Executive Orders Probe into Tragic Inferno that Took 151
The city's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 individuals.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
On Wednesday last week, seven of eight residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.
No fewer than 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, including the executives of a contractor.
"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. Hence we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these deficiencies are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee.
Investigation and Aftermath
The fire—which spread quickly both upwards and from building to building—was finally put out by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it started, and took more than 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.
That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. The government indicates the investigation could require several weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
A number of occupants have said they failed to hear a smoke detector when the incident erupted. Local firefighters found that warning systems in all eight blocks were not working effectively.
Hong Kong's buildings department has put on hold construction activities on numerous private sites.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
In a related development, officers took into custody a individual on suspicion of subversion on the weekend. He was part of a gathering petitioning for an independent inquiry into the fire. An online petition collected over 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.
A pair of additional persons, among them a ex-local representative, were also detained by officers, according to news outlets.
Global Response
The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both condemned the alleged detentions.
"The moment has come for the city's officials to openly examine the reasons of the devastating fire...as opposed to muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.
Background and Resident Profile
The housing estate was built in the early 1980s and had supplied nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 inhabitants, per a 2021 government census.
Almost four in ten of its residents are estimated to be over 65 years old. Some have resided in the public housing complex since it was built.
The city's second-most fatal incident on file killed 176 individuals in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in 1918, when over 600 individuals lost their lives.
