Hong Kong Chief Executive Directs Investigation into Deadly Blaze that Took 151
The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
On Wednesday last week, most of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to extensive renovations—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.
No fewer than 13 people have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, including the executives of a contractor.
"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. Hence we must act seriously to make certain all these loopholes are addressed," he said.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it began, and necessitated over 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.
That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the probe could require several weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Several residents have stated they did not hear a emergency siren when the fire erupted. Local firefighters determined that alarms in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.
Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended renovation projects on 30 private projects.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
Separately, officers took into custody a individual on suspicion of subversion on Saturday. He was among a gathering calling for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An digital signature drive amassed more than 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its information was removed.
Two other people, including a former district councillor, were also questioned by police, per press accounts.
Global Response
Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both denounced the alleged detentions.
"This is the occasion for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the tragic incident...instead of suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.
Background and Resident Profile
The housing estate was completed in the early 1980s and had offered nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 residents, per a 2021 government census.
Nearly 40% of its residents 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-deadliest fire on in history killed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when more than 600 attendees lost their lives.
