🔗 Share this article

Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, seven of eight apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—went up in flames. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting surrounding the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards.

No fewer than 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, among them the senior figures of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in various phases. That is exactly why we must act seriously to make certain all these loopholes are addressed," stated the leader.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—that propagated rapidly both upwards and from building to building—was finally put out by the end of the week, approximately two days after it started, and necessitated over 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.

The same day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the probe could take several weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have stated they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the incident broke out. The city's fire department discovered that detection devices in every tower were operating inadequately.

The city's construction authority has halted for now renovation projects on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on allegations of incitement on the weekend. He was part of a group petitioning for an independent inquiry into the blaze. An online petition gathered more than 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.

Another two individuals, including a past council member, were also taken in by police, according to news outlets.

Global Response

The rights group and Another watchdog have both condemned the said apprehensions.

"This is the occasion for the local government to openly examine the reasons of the tragic incident...instead of suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was constructed in 1983 and had supplied close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 residents, according to a recent official survey.

Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are estimated to be at least 65 years of age. Some have resided in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

The city's second-deadliest fire on in history took 176 people in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 attendees perished.