🔗 Share this article

Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to significant upgrades—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards.

A minimum of 13 suspects have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, among them the executives of a contractor.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to ensure that all these gaps are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—that propagated rapidly both upwards and from building to building—was finally put out by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it started, and took in excess of 2,000 firefighters to subdue.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. The government indicates the investigation could take approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have said they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the fire started. Local firefighters determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were not working effectively.

Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended construction activities on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on suspicion of sedition on Saturday. He was involved with a gathering demanding an autonomous investigation into the fire. An digital signature drive collected in excess of 10,000 supporters in less than a day before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, comprising a ex-local representative, were also questioned by officers, according to news outlets.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both condemned the alleged detentions.

"Now is the time for the local government to openly examine the causes of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was constructed in 1983 and had offered close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 occupants, according to a 2021 government census.

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are believed to be at least 65 years of age. Some have lived in the government-supported development since it was built.

The city's second-most fatal incident on file claimed 176 individuals in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in 1918, when more than 600 individuals died.