🔗 Share this article

The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, most of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that protective netting installed on the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 people have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, comprising the senior figures of a construction company.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. Hence we must take decisive action to guarantee all these deficiencies are plucked," stated the leader.

Investigation and Aftermath

The fire—advancing with speed both vertically and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it began, and necessitated over 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

The same day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to collect forensic material. The government indicates the probe could take three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have reported they failed to hear a fire alarm when the incident erupted. Hong Kong's fire service found that warning systems in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

The relevant regulatory body has put on hold construction activities on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on suspicion of sedition on Saturday. He was among a collective calling for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An online petition amassed over 10,000 endorsements in less than a day before its contents were wiped.

A pair of additional persons, among them a past council member, were also detained by officers, as reported by press accounts.

Global Response

Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both criticised the alleged detentions.

"Now is the time for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the catastrophic blaze...instead of silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was built in the early 1980s and had offered nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 residents, according to a recent official survey.

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are believed to be over 65 years old. Several have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate from its inception.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on file killed 176 lives in 1948 and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in 1918, when more than 600 individuals lost their lives.