The city's Chief Executive Orders Investigation into Tragic Inferno that Took 151
The city's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 people.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
On Wednesday last week, most of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Courtâwhich was subject to significant upgradesâwent up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting installed on the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.
No fewer than 13 people have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, including the senior figures of a contractor.
"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. That is exactly why we must act seriously to guarantee all these gaps are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The blazeâthat propagated rapidly both vertically and from building to buildingâwas finally put out by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it began, and took over 2,000 firefighters to subdue.
That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the inquiry could last three to four weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Multiple inhabitants have reported they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the blaze erupted. Local firefighters found that warning systems in all eight blocks were not working effectively.
The relevant regulatory body has put on hold works on 30 private projects.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on charges related to subversion on the weekend. He was involved with a gathering demanding an separate review into the tragedy. An online petition gathered over 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its information was removed.
Two other people, including a past council member, were also detained by officers, per news outlets.
International Reaction
The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the reported arrests.
"The moment has come for the local government to openly examine the origins of the tragic incident...rather than silencing those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.
Background and Resident Profile
The housing estate was completed in 1983 and had offered nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 occupants, according to a 2021 government census.
Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are estimated to be over 65 years of age. Several have been occupants of the public housing complex from its inception.
The city's second-worst blaze on in history took 176 people in 1948 and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at a sporting venue in 1918, when more than 600 people lost their lives.
