The city's Chief Executive Orders Probe into Deadly Fire that Killed 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that claimed the lives of 151 people.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
On Wednesday last week, seven of eight residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that protective netting installed on the buildings failed to meet fire safety regulations.
No fewer than 13 people have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, among them the senior figures of a building firm.
"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in different stages. That is exactly why we must take decisive action to ensure that all these gaps are eliminated," he said.
Investigation and Aftermath
The blaze—advancing with speed both upwards and between the blocks—was finally put out by Friday morning, approximately two days after it started, and took over 2,000 firefighters to subdue.
The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the inquiry could last several weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Several residents have reported they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the incident erupted. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that warning systems in every tower were not working effectively.
Hong Kong's buildings department has halted for now renovation projects on 30 private projects.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
In a related development, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on charges related to subversion on the weekend. He was among a gathering petitioning for an separate review into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal amassed over 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its page was taken down.
Another two individuals, comprising a former district councillor, were also detained by police, as reported by local media reports.
International Reaction
The rights group and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the alleged detentions.
"Now is the time for the local government to openly examine the origins of the devastating fire...rather than silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.
Background and Resident Profile
The residential complex was completed in the early 1980s and had supplied close to 2,000 units for some 4,600 residents, according to a 2021 government census.
Approximately 40 percent of its residents are thought to be over 65 years of age. A number have lived in the government-supported development from its inception.
The city's second-most fatal incident on file took 176 individuals in 1948 and was caused by a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when over 600 individuals lost their lives.
