Hong Kong Chief Executive Orders Probe into Tragic Fire that Took 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 residents.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
On Wednesday last week, the majority of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.
A minimum of 13 suspects have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, among them the senior figures of a contractor.
"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. Hence we must take decisive action to guarantee all these deficiencies are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The blaze—which spread quickly both upwards and between the blocks—was finally put out by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it started, and took in excess of 2,000 firefighters to contain.
That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the investigation could last approximately a month.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Several residents have reported they did not hear a fire alarm when the incident erupted. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that alarms in every tower were not working effectively.
The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended works on 30 private projects.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
In a related development, officers took into custody a individual on allegations of sedition on the weekend. He was among a collective calling for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An online petition gathered in excess of 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its contents were wiped.
A pair of additional persons, including a ex-local representative, were also questioned by officers, as reported by press accounts.
International Reaction
The rights group and Another watchdog have both criticised the alleged detentions.
"Now is the time for the local government to transparently investigate the reasons of the tragic incident...rather than suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.
Background and Resident Profile
Wang Fuk Court was built in the early 1980s and had provided close to 2,000 units for some 4,600 inhabitants, based on a recent official survey.
Approximately 40 percent of its residents are thought to be over 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the public housing complex since its construction.
Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on in history claimed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when more than 600 attendees perished.
