The city's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
On Wednesday last week, the majority of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to major refurbishment—went up in flames. Investigators have since found that construction site netting installed on the buildings failed to meet fire safety regulations.
A minimum of 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, among them the directors of a construction company.
"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to make certain all these loopholes are eliminated," he said.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The blaze—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was finally put out by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it began, and necessitated more than 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.
The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the investigation could take several weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
A number of occupants have reported they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the fire broke out. Local firefighters determined that detection devices in each building were operating inadequately.
The city's construction authority has put on hold renovation projects on three dozen private developments.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on allegations of incitement on the weekend. He was part of a group demanding an separate review into the fire. An internet-based appeal amassed in excess of 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.
A pair of additional persons, among them a ex-local representative, were also detained by authorities, as reported by news outlets.
International Reaction
The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the reported arrests.
"The moment has come for the city's officials to openly examine the reasons of the devastating fire...as opposed to muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.
Historical Context and Demographics
The housing estate was completed in 1983 and had offered close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, per a recent official survey.
Nearly 40% of its occupants are believed to be at least 65 years of age. Some have resided in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.
Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on record took 176 people in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when more than 600 attendees lost their lives.
