🔗 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 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, most of the residential blocks at the estate—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that construction site netting installed on the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.

At least 13 individuals have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, comprising the directors of a construction company.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these loopholes are plucked," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—advancing with speed both vertically and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it began, and required in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.

That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the probe could require approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have stated they did not hear a smoke detector when the blaze erupted. The city's fire department determined that detection devices in each building were not working effectively.

The relevant regulatory body has halted for now renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, officers took into custody a young man on charges related to incitement on the weekend. He was among a collective demanding an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An online petition collected more than 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, among them a former district councillor, were also taken in by authorities, according to local media reports.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both criticised the reported arrests.

"The moment has come for the Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the causes of the devastating fire...as opposed to silencing those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was constructed in the early 1980s and had supplied 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 residents, based on a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are thought to be at least 65 years old. Several have resided in the public housing complex since it was built.

The city's second-deadliest fire on in history killed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when more than 600 people lost their lives.