The city's Chief Executive Directs Investigation into Deadly Blaze that Killed 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 people.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
On Wednesday last week, seven of eight tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.
A minimum of 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, among them the executives of a contractor.
"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. That is exactly why we must act seriously to guarantee all these loopholes are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The fire—that propagated rapidly both vertically and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it started, and took more than 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.
The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the probe could require three to four weeks.
Systemic Failures Identified
A number of occupants have said they failed to hear a smoke detector when the fire started. The city's fire department discovered that alarms in all eight blocks were not working effectively.
The city's construction authority has put on hold renovation projects on numerous private sites.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Additionally, officers took into custody a young man on allegations of sedition on Saturday. He was part of a gathering petitioning for an separate review into the blaze. An internet-based appeal amassed more than 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its page was taken down.
Another two individuals, comprising a past council member, were also taken in by officers, according to press accounts.
International Reaction
The rights group and The monitoring body have both condemned the reported arrests.
"The moment has come for the local government to openly examine the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.
Background and Resident Profile
Wang Fuk Court was completed in the early 1980s and had provided nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 occupants, based on a recent official survey.
Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are estimated to be over 65 years old. A number have lived in the public housing complex since its construction.
The city's second-worst blaze on record claimed 176 lives in 1948 and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when more than 600 individuals died.
