The city's Chief Executive Orders Probe into Fatal Inferno that Took 151
Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 individuals.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
On Wednesday last week, seven of eight apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings failed to meet fire safety regulations.
No fewer than 13 people have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, among them the directors of a contractor.
"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to guarantee all these gaps are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee.
Investigation and Aftermath
The fire—that propagated rapidly both vertically and from building to building—was finally put out by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it started, and necessitated more than 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.
The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. The government indicates the inquiry could last approximately a month.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Several residents have reported they failed to hear a smoke detector when the fire erupted. Hong Kong's fire service determined that detection devices in each building were not working effectively.
The relevant regulatory body has halted for now renovation projects on numerous private sites.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
In a related development, officers took into custody a individual on charges related to incitement on the weekend. He was among a gathering demanding an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An digital signature drive collected more than 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its page was taken down.
A pair of additional persons, comprising a ex-local representative, were also taken in by officers, per news outlets.
International Reaction
The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both criticised the reported arrests.
"The moment has come for the city's officials to openly examine the reasons of the tragic incident...instead of suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.
Background and Resident Profile
The residential complex was completed in the early 1980s and had supplied 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 inhabitants, per a population count.
Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are estimated to be older than 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the government-supported development from its inception.
The city's second-worst blaze on in history killed 176 lives in 1948 and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in 1918, when in excess of 600 attendees perished.
