The city's Leader Directs Probe into Fatal Inferno that Killed 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 individuals.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
Last Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.
No fewer than 13 individuals have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, comprising the senior figures of a construction company.
"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these gaps are plucked," stated the leader.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The inferno—advancing with speed both vertically and from building to building—was finally put out by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it started, and required in excess of 2,000 firefighters to contain.
On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the inquiry could last approximately a month.
Systemic Failures Identified
A number of occupants have reported they did not hear a smoke detector when the blaze started. Local firefighters determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.
The city's construction authority has put on hold renovation projects on three dozen private developments.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on suspicion of incitement on Saturday. He was part of a gathering petitioning for an separate review into the tragedy. An online petition collected in excess of 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its page was taken down.
A pair of additional persons, including a past council member, were also detained by police, according to press accounts.
International Reaction
Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both denounced the reported arrests.
"The moment has come for the local government to openly examine the causes of the tragic incident...rather than muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.
Background and Resident Profile
The residential complex was constructed in the early 1980s and had offered nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 residents, based on a population count.
Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are believed to be over 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the government-supported development since it was built.
Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on file claimed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in 1918, when in excess of 600 attendees lost their lives.
