The city's Leader Orders Probe into Tragic Inferno that Took 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 people.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
Last Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting installed on the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.
No fewer than 13 suspects have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, comprising the executives of a construction company.
"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to make certain all these gaps are plucked," he said.
Investigation and Aftermath
The fire—which spread quickly both upwards and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it started, and took over 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.
That very day, police began entering the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the inquiry could last three to four weeks.
Systemic Failures Identified
Multiple inhabitants have stated they did not hear a smoke detector when the incident erupted. Hong Kong's fire service found that detection devices in all eight blocks were not working effectively.
The city's construction authority has halted for now construction activities on three dozen private developments.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on suspicion of sedition on the weekend. He was among a gathering calling for an separate review into the fire. An internet-based appeal collected more than 10,000 supporters in less than a day before its contents were wiped.
Two other people, among them a former district councillor, were also detained by authorities, per news outlets.
International Reaction
The rights group and The monitoring body have both criticised the reported arrests.
"Now is the time for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...instead of silencing those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.
Historical Context and Demographics
The housing estate was built in 1983 and had supplied close to 2,000 units for some 4,600 inhabitants, based on a 2021 government census.
Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are estimated to be older than 65 years old. Several have lived in the subsidised housing estate since it was built.
Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on record killed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was the result of a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when more than 600 attendees perished.
