Hong Kong Chief Executive Orders Probe into Fatal Fire that Killed 151
The city's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 residents.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
On Wednesday last week, most of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.
No fewer than 13 individuals have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, among them the senior figures of a construction company.
"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to guarantee all these loopholes are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The blaze—that propagated rapidly both upwards and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the end of the week, approximately two days after it began, and required over 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.
That very day, police began entering the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the inquiry could require three to four weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Several residents have said they failed to hear a smoke detector when the blaze broke out. The city's fire department found that warning systems in each building were not working effectively.
The city's construction authority has halted for now construction activities on 30 private projects.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on allegations of subversion on the weekend. He was among a collective demanding an separate review into the tragedy. An online petition gathered over 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.
Another two individuals, comprising a ex-local representative, were also taken in by officers, according to local media reports.
Global Response
The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both denounced the said apprehensions.
"This is the occasion for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the tragic incident...as opposed to suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.
Historical Context and Demographics
Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and had offered close to 2,000 units for some 4,600 inhabitants, based on a population count.
Approximately 40 percent of its residents are estimated to be older than 65 years of age. Some have been occupants of the government-supported development since its construction.
The city's second-worst blaze on in history claimed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when more than 600 attendees lost their lives.
