Hong Kong Chief Executive Directs Investigation into Deadly Inferno that Took 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 people.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
On Wednesday last week, seven of eight tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that protective netting installed on the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.
A minimum of 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, among them the executives of a contractor.
"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to make certain all these gaps are addressed," stated the leader.
Investigation and Aftermath
The fire—which spread quickly both vertically and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it began, and required more than 2,000 emergency responders to contain.
That very day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the investigation could take three to four weeks.
Systemic Failures Identified
Several residents have stated they did not hear a smoke detector when the fire broke out. Hong Kong's fire service determined that warning systems in each building were operating inadequately.
The relevant regulatory body has put on hold works on three dozen private developments.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on charges related to subversion on Saturday. He was part of a gathering demanding an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An digital signature drive collected in excess of 10,000 endorsements in less than a day before its contents were wiped.
Another two individuals, comprising a former district councillor, were also taken in by authorities, as reported by local media reports.
International Reaction
The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the said apprehensions.
"The moment has come for the city's officials to transparently investigate the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.
Background and Resident Profile
The housing estate was completed in the early 1980s and had supplied close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, based on a recent official survey.
Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are believed to be at least 65 years of age. Some have lived in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.
The city's second-most fatal incident on file killed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in 1918, when over 600 individuals perished.
