The city's Chief Executive Orders Probe into Deadly Fire that Took 151
Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to probe the origins of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 individuals.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
This past Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—went up in flames. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.
A minimum of 13 suspects have been arrested for potential negligent homicide, including the executives of a contractor.
"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to make certain all these gaps are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The fire—that propagated rapidly both upwards and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it ignited, and required over 2,000 emergency responders to contain.
The same day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the probe could require approximately a month.
Shortcomings Uncovered
A number of occupants have reported they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the blaze broke out. The city's fire department discovered that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.
The relevant regulatory body has temporarily suspended construction activities on numerous private sites.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on charges related to sedition on Saturday. He was involved with a collective calling for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An digital signature drive collected over 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its page was taken down.
A pair of additional persons, comprising a former district councillor, were also taken in by authorities, per press accounts.
International Reaction
The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the reported arrests.
"The moment has come for the city's officials to openly examine the origins of the catastrophic blaze...rather than suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.
Background and Resident Profile
The housing estate was completed in the early 1980s and had offered nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 residents, based on a recent official survey.
Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are estimated to be older than 65 years old. Some have lived in the public housing complex since its construction.
The city's second-most fatal incident on file claimed 176 lives in 1948 and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when in excess of 600 individuals perished.
