🔗 Share this article

The city's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, most of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that protective netting used around the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.

No fewer than 13 people have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, including the senior figures of a building firm.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in various phases. Hence we must take decisive action to guarantee all these deficiencies are eliminated," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and across the separate towers—was finally put out by the end of the week, approximately two days after it ignited, and required more than 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.

The same day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the probe could require three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have stated they failed to hear a emergency siren when the fire broke out. Local firefighters found that warning systems in all eight blocks were not working effectively.

The relevant regulatory body has temporarily suspended renovation projects on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, officers took into custody a 24-year-old man on suspicion of sedition on the weekend. He was among a gathering petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the blaze. An online petition collected over 10,000 supporters in less than a day before its contents were wiped.

Two other people, comprising a former district councillor, were also detained by authorities, as reported by news outlets.

Global Response

The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the said apprehensions.

"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the reasons of the devastating fire...rather than silencing those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was built in the early 1980s and had offered 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 residents, per a recent official survey.

Almost four in ten of its residents are believed to be at least 65 years old. A number have resided in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on file took 176 lives in 1948 and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when over 600 people died.