🔗 Share this article

The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, the majority of the residential blocks at the housing complex—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 people have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, comprising the senior figures of a contractor.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these deficiencies are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee.

Investigation and Aftermath

The blaze—which spread quickly both vertically and between the blocks—was only fully doused by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it ignited, and took in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to contain.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the probe could require three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have stated they did not hear a smoke detector when the incident started. The city's fire department found that warning systems in each building were malfunctioning.

Hong Kong's buildings department has put on hold renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, officers took into custody a individual on suspicion of incitement on the weekend. He was involved with a group demanding an autonomous investigation into the fire. An internet-based appeal amassed more than 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its information was removed.

A pair of additional persons, comprising a ex-local representative, were also detained by authorities, as reported by press accounts.

International Reaction

The rights group and Human Rights Watch 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," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was constructed in 1983 and had offered nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 inhabitants, per a population count.

Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are thought to be over 65 years old. Several have lived in the subsidised housing estate from its inception.

The city's second-deadliest fire on record claimed 176 lives in 1948 and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when over 600 people lost their lives.