Hong Kong Chief Executive Orders Investigation into Deadly Blaze that Took 151
Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to probe the origins of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 residents.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
This past Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the estate—which had been undergoing 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.
At least 13 people have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, including the senior figures of a contractor.
"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these gaps are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The blaze—advancing with speed both upwards and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by the end of the week, approximately two days after it ignited, and took more than 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.
The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the inquiry could last approximately a month.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Multiple inhabitants have stated they failed to hear a fire alarm when the blaze started. Hong Kong's fire service found that alarms in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.
The relevant regulatory body has put on hold renovation projects on numerous private sites.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
In a related development, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on suspicion of incitement on the weekend. He was part of a collective calling for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An online petition gathered in excess of 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.
Another two individuals, including a ex-local representative, were also taken in by authorities, per news outlets.
International Reaction
The rights group and The monitoring body have both denounced the alleged detentions.
"The moment has come for the local government to openly examine the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...rather than silencing those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.
Background and Resident Profile
The residential complex was completed in the early 1980s and had offered nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 occupants, according to a population count.
Nearly 40% of its residents are estimated to be over 65 years of age. A number have resided in the subsidised housing estate from its inception.
Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on file claimed 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 local racetrack in the early 1900s, when over 600 attendees lost their lives.
