Hong Kong Leader Directs Probe into Deadly Fire that Claimed Lives of 151

Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a catastrophic blaze that took a minimum of 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, the majority of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, comprising the executives of a contractor.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to make certain all these gaps are eliminated," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was only fully doused by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it started, and necessitated over 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.

On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the investigation could last three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have said they failed to hear a emergency siren when the blaze started. Local firefighters discovered that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended works on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on charges related to subversion on Saturday. He was among a collective calling for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An online petition amassed more than 10,000 supporters in less than a day before its information was removed.

Two other people, among them a former district councillor, were also detained by officers, per press accounts.

International Reaction

The rights group and Another watchdog have both denounced the alleged detentions.

"This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was built in the early 1980s and had provided close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 inhabitants, per a 2021 government census.

Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are estimated to be over 65 years of age. Some have lived in the public housing complex since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on record killed 176 people in 1948 and was the result of a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when over 600 attendees died.