The city's Leader Directs Investigation into Fatal Inferno that Took 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to probe the origins of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
This past Wednesday, the majority of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that protective netting used around the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.
A minimum of 13 individuals have been taken into custody over alleged culpable homicide, including the executives of a contractor.
"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in different stages. Hence we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these loopholes are plucked," he said.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The blaze—that propagated rapidly both vertically and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it started, and required over 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.
That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the investigation could require several weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Several residents have reported they failed to hear a fire alarm when the fire started. Local firefighters determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.
The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended works on 30 private projects.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on allegations of incitement on Saturday. He was part of a group demanding an independent inquiry into the fire. An digital signature drive gathered in excess of 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its contents were wiped.
A pair of additional persons, among them a past council member, were also taken in by police, according to local media reports.
Global Response
Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both denounced the alleged detentions.
"The moment has come for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the tragic incident...as opposed to muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," Amnesty International said.
Historical Context and Demographics
Wang Fuk Court was completed in the early 1980s and had provided nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 inhabitants, based on a 2021 government census.
Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are thought to be over 65 years old. Some have resided in the government-supported development since its construction.
Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on file took 176 lives in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 individuals died.
