Hong Kong Leader Directs Probe into Tragic Blaze that Took 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 individuals.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
This past Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.
No fewer than 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, among them the senior figures of a contractor.
"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these gaps are plucked," stated the leader.
Investigation and Aftermath
The fire—that propagated rapidly both upwards and from building to building—was only fully doused by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it ignited, and required over 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.
That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the investigation could require approximately a month.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Multiple inhabitants have reported they failed to hear a emergency siren when the blaze started. Hong Kong's fire service determined that alarms in each building were malfunctioning.
Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended construction activities on 30 private projects.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
Separately, police reportedly detained a young man on suspicion of incitement on Saturday. He was among a group petitioning for an independent inquiry into the fire. An internet-based appeal gathered more than 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its contents were wiped.
Another two individuals, comprising a former district councillor, were also detained by authorities, as reported by press accounts.
Global Response
The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both denounced the reported arrests.
"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.
Background and Resident Profile
The residential complex was constructed in the early 1980s and had supplied nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, based on a population count.
Nearly 40% of its residents are thought to be at least 65 years of age. Several have lived in the subsidised housing estate from its inception.
Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on file took 176 people in the mid-20th century and was the result of a detonation at street level at a commercial building. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when more than 600 people lost their lives.
