Hong Kong Leader Directs Investigation into Fatal Fire that Took 151
The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 people.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
On Wednesday last week, seven of eight tower blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting installed on the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.
At least 13 suspects have been taken into custody over alleged culpable homicide, among them the senior figures of a construction company.
"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must take decisive action to guarantee all these gaps are addressed," stated the leader.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The fire—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 took more than 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.
On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the investigation could take several weeks.
Systemic Failures Identified
Several residents have reported they did not hear a smoke detector when the blaze broke out. The city's fire department discovered that detection devices in every tower were not working effectively.
The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended renovation projects on numerous private sites.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Separately, officers took into custody a young man on charges related to sedition on Saturday. He was involved with a group demanding an separate review into the blaze. An online petition amassed more than 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.
Another two individuals, comprising a former district councillor, were also questioned by officers, as reported by news outlets.
Global Response
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both condemned the alleged detentions.
"Now is the time for the local government to transparently investigate the causes of the devastating fire...as opposed to silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.
Historical Context and Demographics
The housing estate was completed in the early 1980s and had provided nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 occupants, based on a population count.
Approximately 40 percent of its residents are thought to be over 65 years of age. Several have been occupants of the public housing complex from its inception.
The city's second-worst blaze on file killed 176 lives in 1948 and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The worst was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 attendees lost their lives.
