The city's Leader Orders Probe into Tragic Fire that Claimed Lives of 151
Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 residents.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
This past Wednesday, seven of eight residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting surrounding the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.
No fewer than 13 suspects have been taken into custody over alleged culpable homicide, including the executives of a building firm.
"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in various phases. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to make certain all these deficiencies are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee.
Investigation and Aftermath
The fire—which spread quickly both upwards and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, approximately two days after it began, and required more than 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.
The same day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the inquiry could require several weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
A number of occupants have stated they failed to hear a smoke detector when the blaze started. Hong Kong's fire service determined that warning systems in every tower were malfunctioning.
The relevant regulatory body has halted for now works 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 separate review into the blaze. An digital signature drive gathered over 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its information was removed.
A pair of additional persons, including a ex-local representative, were also taken in by police, per local media reports.
International Reaction
The rights group and The monitoring body have both denounced the reported arrests.
"This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the causes of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," Amnesty International said.
Background and Resident Profile
The residential complex was completed in the early 1980s and had offered 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, according to a population count.
Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are thought to be at least 65 years old. Several have resided in the public housing complex from its inception.
The city's second-most fatal incident on record claimed 176 individuals in 1948 and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when in excess of 600 individuals perished.
