Hong Kong Chief Executive Orders Investigation into Deadly Fire that Killed 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
On Wednesday last week, most of the residential blocks at the estate—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.
At least 13 people have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, comprising the directors of a construction company.
"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to guarantee all these deficiencies are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The fire—that propagated rapidly both vertically and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it ignited, and necessitated over 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.
That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the probe could last three to four weeks.
Systemic Failures Identified
Multiple inhabitants have said they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the incident broke out. Hong Kong's fire service determined that warning systems in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.
Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended construction activities on numerous private sites.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Additionally, officers took into custody a young man on charges related to sedition on the weekend. He was part of a collective demanding an autonomous investigation into the blaze. An online petition collected in excess of 10,000 supporters in less than a day before its information was removed.
Two other people, including a former district councillor, were also taken in by authorities, per press accounts.
Global Response
The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both denounced the alleged detentions.
"This is the occasion for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the devastating fire...rather than suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.
Background and Resident Profile
Wang Fuk Court was completed in the early 1980s and had supplied 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 inhabitants, according to a 2021 government census.
Approximately 40 percent of its residents are estimated to be older than 65 years of age. A number have resided in the public housing complex since its construction.
The city's second-most fatal incident on file killed 176 individuals in 1948 and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in 1918, when in excess of 600 people lost their lives.
