The city's Chief Executive Orders Investigation into Deadly Blaze that Killed 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 residents.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
This past Wednesday, most of the tower blocks at the housing complex—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.
A minimum of 13 people have been taken into custody over alleged culpable homicide, including the directors of a contractor.
"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in various phases. That is exactly why we must take decisive action to ensure that all these deficiencies are eliminated," stated the leader.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The fire—advancing with speed both upwards and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it ignited, and necessitated more than 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.
The same day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the investigation could take approximately a month.
Systemic Failures Identified
Multiple inhabitants have said they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the incident erupted. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that alarms in every tower were not working effectively.
Hong Kong's buildings department has halted for now construction activities on three dozen private developments.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
In a related development, officers took into custody a 24-year-old man on allegations of incitement on Saturday. He was part of a gathering demanding an independent inquiry into the fire. An online petition collected more than 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.
A pair of additional persons, comprising a past council member, were also questioned by officers, according to press accounts.
International Reaction
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the said apprehensions.
"The moment has come for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the tragic incident...as opposed to silencing those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.
Historical Context and Demographics
Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and had provided close to 2,000 units for some 4,600 occupants, per a recent official survey.
Nearly 40% of its occupants are believed to be over 65 years of age. A number have resided in the public housing complex since it was built.
Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on in history took 176 people in the mid-20th century and was the result of a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in 1918, when over 600 individuals lost their lives.
