Hong Kong Chief Executive Directs Investigation into Fatal Blaze that Took 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 people.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
On Wednesday last week, the majority of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.
A minimum of 13 people have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, including the directors of a construction company.
"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. Hence we must act seriously to make certain all these gaps are eliminated," he said.
Investigation and Aftermath
The fire—that propagated rapidly both vertically and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it ignited, and necessitated more than 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.
On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. Authorities say the probe could require several weeks.
Systemic Failures Identified
Multiple inhabitants have reported they failed to hear a smoke detector when the incident broke out. The city's fire department discovered that warning systems in all eight blocks were not working effectively.
Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended renovation projects on three dozen private developments.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
In a related development, police reportedly detained a young man on allegations of sedition on the weekend. He was involved with a gathering calling for an separate review into the fire. An online petition gathered over 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its contents were wiped.
A pair of additional persons, including a past council member, were also detained by officers, as reported by press accounts.
International Reaction
The rights group and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the said apprehensions.
"This is the occasion for the city's officials to openly examine the causes of the tragic incident...instead of silencing those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.
Historical Context and Demographics
Wang Fuk Court was built in the early 1980s and had provided 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 residents, per a population count.
Nearly 40% of its occupants are believed to be at least 65 years of age. A number have resided in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.
Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on file claimed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when over 600 people died.
