The city's Chief Executive Directs Probe into Tragic Blaze that Took 151
The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 people.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
This past Wednesday, most of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings failed to meet fire safety regulations.
No fewer than 13 people have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, including the directors of a construction company.
"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these loopholes are eliminated," stated the leader.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The fire—which spread quickly both vertically and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it started, and required over 2,000 emergency responders to contain.
That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the probe could last several weeks.
Systemic Failures Identified
Several residents have said they did not hear a fire alarm when the blaze erupted. Hong Kong's fire service determined that detection devices in each building were not working effectively.
The city's construction authority has put on hold works on numerous private sites.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
Additionally, police reportedly detained a young man on allegations of subversion on Saturday. He was involved with a gathering calling for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal gathered over 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.
Two other people, comprising a past council member, were also taken in by officers, according to news outlets.
Global Response
The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the reported arrests.
"Now is the time for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the tragic incident...as opposed to suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.
Background and Resident Profile
Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and had provided close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 occupants, based on a recent official survey.
Nearly 40% of its occupants are thought to be at least 65 years of age. Some have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since it was built.
The city'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 multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when over 600 people died.
