The city's Chief Executive Orders Investigation into Tragic Blaze that Took 151
The city's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 people.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
Last Wednesday, most of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.
A minimum of 13 people have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, among them the directors of a construction company.
"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. We have uncovered shortcomings in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to guarantee all these gaps are plucked," stated the leader.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The fire—which spread quickly both upwards and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it began, and necessitated over 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.
On that day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the inquiry could require three to four weeks.
Systemic Failures Identified
A number of occupants have said they failed to hear a fire alarm when the fire started. Local firefighters discovered that alarms in each building were operating inadequately.
The city's construction authority has put on hold renovation projects on numerous private sites.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
In a related development, officers took into custody a individual on allegations of subversion on the weekend. He was among a group demanding an autonomous investigation into the blaze. An online petition collected over 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.
A pair of additional persons, among them a past council member, were also taken in by officers, as reported by press accounts.
Global Response
The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both condemned the said apprehensions.
"Now is the time for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the tragic incident...rather than suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.
Historical Context and Demographics
The housing estate was built in the early 1980s and had offered close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, based on a recent official survey.
Nearly 40% of its residents are thought to be at least 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the government-supported development from its inception.
Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on record killed 176 individuals in 1948 and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in 1918, when more than 600 attendees perished.
