The city's Chief Executive Orders Probe into Deadly Inferno that Killed 151
Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 people.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
This past Wednesday, most of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting used around the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.
A minimum of 13 people have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, comprising the senior figures of a building firm.
"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Failures have been detected 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—that propagated rapidly both vertically and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it ignited, and required more than 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.
On that day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the probe could last several weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Several residents have reported they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the blaze erupted. Local firefighters determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were not working effectively.
The city's construction authority has halted for now construction activities on numerous private sites.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of incitement on the weekend. He was among a group petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An digital signature drive gathered in excess of 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.
Two other people, comprising a ex-local representative, were also detained by authorities, per local media reports.
Global Response
The rights group and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the reported arrests.
"This is the occasion for the local government to transparently investigate the origins of the devastating fire...instead of suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.
Background and Resident Profile
The residential complex was completed in the early 1980s and had supplied 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, according to a recent official survey.
Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are thought to be at least 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the public housing complex from its inception.
Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on record took 176 individuals in 1948 and was the result of a detonation at street level at a commercial building. The most deadly was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 attendees died.
