The city's Leader Orders Probe into Deadly Blaze that Took 151
Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to probe the origins of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 individuals.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
On Wednesday last week, seven of eight tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that construction site netting used around the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.
At least 13 people have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, comprising the senior figures of a construction company.
"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. Hence we must take decisive action to ensure that all these loopholes are plucked," 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 more than 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.
That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the investigation could take three to four weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Several residents have reported they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the incident broke out. Hong Kong's fire service determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.
The city's construction authority has put on hold construction activities on three dozen private developments.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
In a related development, officers took into custody a 24-year-old man on charges related to subversion on Saturday. He was part of a collective calling for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An online petition gathered over 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its contents were wiped.
A pair of additional persons, including a ex-local representative, were also questioned by authorities, according to local media reports.
International Reaction
Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both denounced the alleged detentions.
"This is the occasion for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the tragic incident...as opposed to suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.
Historical Context and Demographics
Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and had offered nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 inhabitants, per a 2021 government census.
Approximately 40 percent of its residents are thought to be over 65 years of age. Several have resided in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.
Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on in history killed 176 people in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when over 600 attendees died.
