🔗 Share this article

Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

This past Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting surrounding the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 suspects have been taken into custody over alleged culpable homicide, including the directors of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. Hence we must take decisive action to guarantee all these gaps are plucked," stated the leader.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and between the blocks—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it ignited, and took over 2,000 fire service personnel to contain.

On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the probe could require several weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have said they did not hear a smoke detector when the fire broke out. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that warning systems in each building were malfunctioning.

Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended works on 30 private projects.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, police reportedly detained a young man on charges related to sedition on Saturday. He was part of a collective calling for an autonomous investigation into the blaze. An online petition collected more than 10,000 endorsements in less than a day before its information was removed.

A pair of additional persons, among them a ex-local representative, were also detained by officers, per local media reports.

International Reaction

The rights group and The monitoring body have both condemned the said apprehensions.

"Now is the time for the local government to transparently investigate the reasons of the tragic incident...as opposed to muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was completed in the early 1980s and had offered nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 residents, according to a recent official survey.

Nearly 40% of its residents are believed to be older than 65 years of age. Some have lived in the public housing complex since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on in history claimed 176 individuals in 1948 and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in 1918, when over 600 attendees lost their lives.