The city's Chief Executive Directs Probe into Deadly Fire that Took 151
The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 residents.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
Last Wednesday, most of the tower blocks at the housing complex—which was subject to major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that protective netting installed on the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.
At least 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, including the directors of a building firm.
"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to make certain all these loopholes are eliminated," stated the leader.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The fire—which spread quickly both upwards and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it started, and necessitated more than 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.
That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the probe could require several weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Multiple inhabitants have stated they did not hear a fire alarm when the blaze broke out. Hong Kong's fire service found that detection devices in all eight blocks were not working effectively.
The city's construction authority has halted for now renovation projects on 30 private projects.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on suspicion of incitement on Saturday. He was among a collective petitioning for an independent inquiry into the blaze. An online petition gathered over 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its information was removed.
Another two individuals, comprising a ex-local representative, were also taken in by officers, according to news outlets.
International Reaction
The rights group and The monitoring body have both condemned the alleged detentions.
"The moment has come for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the causes of the devastating fire...as opposed to suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.
Historical Context and Demographics
The housing estate was constructed in 1983 and had provided 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 residents, based on a population count.
Almost four in ten of its residents are believed to be at least 65 years old. Some have lived in the subsidised housing estate from its inception.
The city's second-worst blaze on record killed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 people perished.
