The city's Chief Executive Directs Probe into Fatal Fire that Killed 151
Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that killed at least 151 individuals.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
On Wednesday last week, seven of eight tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting installed on the buildings failed to meet flame retardant standards.
No fewer than 13 people have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, among them the senior figures of a building firm.
"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to ensure that all these deficiencies are eliminated," stated the leader.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The inferno—that propagated rapidly both vertically and between the blocks—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it started, and required over 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.
The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the investigation could take several weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Multiple inhabitants have stated they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the incident broke out. The city's fire department determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.
Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended renovation projects on numerous private sites.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on allegations of subversion on the weekend. He was involved with a collective demanding an independent inquiry into the blaze. An internet-based appeal gathered more than 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its page was taken down.
Another two individuals, comprising a ex-local representative, were also taken in by police, per news outlets.
International Reaction
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the reported arrests.
"Now is the time for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the tragic incident...instead of muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," Amnesty International said.
Historical Context and Demographics
Wang Fuk Court was completed in 1983 and had provided close to 2,000 units for some 4,600 residents, according to a 2021 government census.
Almost four in ten of its occupants are believed to be at least 65 years of age. A number have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since its construction.
The city's second-most fatal incident on file killed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was caused by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in 1918, when more than 600 attendees lost their lives.
