The city's Leader Directs Probe into Fatal Inferno that Took 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 individuals.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
Last Wednesday, the majority of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.
A minimum of 13 people have been taken into custody over alleged culpable homicide, comprising the executives of a building firm.
"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. Hence we must take decisive action to make certain all these deficiencies are eliminated," stated the leader.
Investigation and Aftermath
The fire—that propagated rapidly both upwards and from building to building—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it began, and required in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to contain.
That very day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the investigation could take three to four weeks.
Systemic Failures Identified
Multiple inhabitants have reported they did not hear a fire alarm when the blaze erupted. Hong Kong's fire service determined that alarms in each building were malfunctioning.
The relevant regulatory body has put on hold works on three dozen private developments.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Separately, officers took into custody a individual on charges related to sedition on Saturday. He was involved with a group calling for an separate review into the fire. An internet-based appeal gathered over 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its contents were wiped.
Two other people, among them a former district councillor, were also detained by authorities, according to press accounts.
International Reaction
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both condemned the said apprehensions.
"This is the occasion for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the tragic incident...instead of silencing those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.
Historical Context and Demographics
The residential complex was completed in 1983 and had provided nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 inhabitants, per a population count.
Nearly 40% of its occupants are thought to be at least 65 years old. Some have been occupants of the government-supported development since its construction.
The city's second-most fatal incident on record took 176 lives in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a sporting venue in 1918, when in excess of 600 people died.
