The city's Leader Directs Probe into Fatal Fire that Took 151
Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 residents.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
On Wednesday last week, most of the residential blocks at the housing complex—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting surrounding the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.
A minimum of 13 people have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, among them the directors of a building firm.
"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to ensure that all these loopholes are addressed," he said.
Investigation and Aftermath
The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it ignited, and necessitated over 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.
On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the investigation could take several weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
A number of occupants have reported they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the fire started. The city's fire department determined that detection devices in every tower were malfunctioning.
The relevant regulatory body has halted for now renovation projects on numerous private sites.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Separately, officers took into custody a 24-year-old man on allegations of subversion on Saturday. He was part of a collective petitioning for an independent inquiry into the fire. An digital signature drive collected more than 10,000 endorsements in less than a day before its contents were wiped.
Another two individuals, including a past council member, were also detained by police, as reported by press accounts.
International Reaction
The rights group and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the reported arrests.
"Now is the time for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the devastating fire...as opposed to suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.
Historical Context and Demographics
Wang Fuk Court was constructed in 1983 and had provided close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 residents, per a recent official survey.
Almost four in ten of its residents are estimated to be at least 65 years old. Some have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since it was built.
Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on record killed 176 individuals in 1948 and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 people lost their lives.