The city's Leader Orders Probe into Tragic Fire that Took 151
Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that killed at least 151 people.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
This past Wednesday, the majority of the residential blocks at the estate—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—went up in flames. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings failed to meet flame retardant standards.
A minimum of 13 individuals have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, comprising the directors of a construction company.
"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to make certain all these deficiencies are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The inferno—that propagated rapidly both vertically and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it began, and required in excess of 2,000 firefighters to subdue.
On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the investigation could require three to four weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Multiple inhabitants have stated they failed to hear a emergency siren when the incident erupted. Local firefighters discovered that detection devices in every tower were malfunctioning.
The relevant regulatory body has temporarily suspended renovation projects on three dozen private developments.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Separately, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on allegations of subversion on the weekend. He was among a gathering demanding an separate review into the blaze. An online petition gathered over 10,000 supporters in less than a day before its page was taken down.
Another two individuals, including a ex-local representative, were also taken in by authorities, as reported by news outlets.
International Reaction
The rights group and Another watchdog have both denounced the reported arrests.
"This is the occasion for the local government to openly examine the origins of the devastating fire...rather than muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.
Background and Resident Profile
The housing estate was built in 1983 and had offered close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 residents, per a recent official survey.
Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are thought to be at least 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the public housing complex since it was built.
Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on record took 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in 1918, when in excess of 600 individuals lost their lives.
