Hong Kong Leader Orders Investigation into Tragic Inferno that Took 151
Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to probe the origins of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 residents.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
This past Wednesday, the majority of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards.
At least 13 individuals have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, including the senior figures of a contractor.
"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to make certain all these deficiencies are addressed," he said.
Investigation and Aftermath
The fire—which spread quickly both vertically and across the separate towers—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it ignited, and took in excess of 2,000 firefighters to contain.
That very day, police began entering the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the probe could require three to four weeks.
Systemic Failures Identified
Multiple inhabitants have said they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the blaze erupted. The city's fire department determined that detection devices in every tower were malfunctioning.
Hong Kong's buildings department has put on hold renovation projects on three dozen private developments.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on charges related to incitement on the weekend. He was part of a collective demanding an autonomous investigation into the fire. An online petition gathered over 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.
A pair of additional persons, comprising a past council member, were also detained by police, according to local media reports.
International Reaction
Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both condemned the said apprehensions.
"Now is the time for the local government to transparently investigate the reasons of the devastating fire...instead of silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.
Historical Context and Demographics
Wang Fuk Court was completed in the early 1980s and had provided close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, per a recent official survey.
Almost four in ten of its occupants are believed to be older than 65 years of age. Some have lived in the public housing complex from its inception.
The city's second-most fatal incident on file claimed 176 people in 1948 and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The worst was at a sporting venue in 1918, when over 600 individuals lost their lives.
