The city's Chief Executive Directs Probe into Tragic Blaze that Took 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a tragic inferno that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
This past Wednesday, most of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that protective netting used around the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.
At least 13 individuals have been taken into custody over alleged culpable homicide, including the senior figures of a contractor.
"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in various phases. That is exactly why we must act seriously to guarantee all these gaps are addressed," he said.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The inferno—that propagated rapidly both vertically and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it ignited, and took more than 2,000 firefighters to subdue.
On that day, police began entering the buildings to secure proof. Authorities say the investigation could require three to four weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Multiple inhabitants have stated they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the fire started. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that detection devices in each building were not working effectively.
Hong Kong's buildings department has halted for now works on 30 private projects.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Separately, officers took into custody a young man on charges related to incitement on Saturday. He was part of a gathering demanding an independent inquiry into the blaze. An online petition collected more than 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its page was taken down.
Another two individuals, including a past council member, were also taken in by police, as reported by news outlets.
International Reaction
Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both criticised the reported arrests.
"The moment has come for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the causes of the tragic incident...as opposed to suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.
Historical Context and Demographics
The residential complex was constructed in the early 1980s and had supplied close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 inhabitants, based on a 2021 government census.
Almost four in ten of its residents are thought to be over 65 years old. Several have lived in the public housing complex since its construction.
Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on in history killed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when more than 600 attendees lost their lives.
