The city's Leader Directs Probe into Fatal Fire that Took 151
Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 individuals.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
This past Wednesday, seven of eight residential blocks at the estate—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting used around the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.
A minimum of 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, including the senior figures of a construction company.
"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. Hence we must respond rigorously to make certain all these gaps are eliminated," he said.
Investigation and Aftermath
The fire—advancing with speed both vertically and between the blocks—was only fully doused by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it began, and required more than 2,000 emergency responders to contain.
That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the probe could take three to four weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
A number of occupants have stated they did not hear a emergency siren when the fire broke out. Hong Kong's fire service found that detection devices in each building were not working effectively.
The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended renovation projects on numerous private sites.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on suspicion of sedition on the weekend. He was among a collective calling for an separate review into the fire. An digital signature drive amassed more than 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its information was removed.
Another two individuals, among them a ex-local representative, were also questioned by authorities, as reported by press accounts.
Global Response
The rights group and The monitoring body have both denounced the reported arrests.
"This is the occasion for the city's officials to openly examine the origins of the devastating fire...as opposed to silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.
Historical Context and Demographics
The housing estate was built in 1983 and had offered close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, per a recent official survey.
Almost four in ten of its occupants are thought to be older than 65 years old. Several have lived in the public housing complex since its construction.
Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on in history killed 176 individuals in 1948 and was caused by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when over 600 attendees lost their lives.
