Hong Kong Chief Executive Directs Probe into Deadly Blaze that Took 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to probe the origins of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 individuals.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
This past Wednesday, most of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards.
No fewer than 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, comprising the senior figures of a contractor.
"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. Hence we must take decisive action to guarantee all these deficiencies are addressed," he said.
Investigation and Aftermath
The blaze—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 subdue.
That very day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the inquiry could last three to four weeks.
Systemic Failures Identified
A number of occupants have said they failed to hear a fire alarm when the incident erupted. The city's fire department determined that warning systems in each building were operating inadequately.
The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended works on numerous private sites.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
Additionally, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on charges related to sedition on Saturday. He was part of a gathering demanding an independent inquiry into the blaze. An digital signature drive collected in excess of 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its information was removed.
Another two individuals, among them a former district councillor, were also questioned by officers, according to local media reports.
Global Response
The rights group and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the said apprehensions.
"Now is the time for the city's officials to transparently investigate the causes of the tragic incident...as opposed to silencing those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.
Background and Resident Profile
The residential complex was built in the early 1980s and had supplied 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 inhabitants, based on a population count.
Almost four in ten of its occupants are believed to be at least 65 years of age. Several have been occupants of the public housing complex since its construction.
Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on record claimed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was caused by a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when more than 600 attendees perished.
