Hong Kong Leader Orders Probe into Deadly Fire that Took 151
Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 people.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
Last Wednesday, seven of eight residential blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that protective netting used around the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.
No fewer than 13 suspects have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, including the senior figures of a contractor.
"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in different stages. That is exactly why we must act seriously to ensure that all these deficiencies are eliminated," he said.
Investigation and Aftermath
The fire—advancing with speed both vertically and from building to building—was only fully doused by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it started, and necessitated more than 2,000 firefighters to subdue.
On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the inquiry could require approximately a month.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Multiple inhabitants have said they did not hear a fire alarm when the blaze broke out. The city's fire department discovered that detection devices in each building were not working effectively.
The relevant regulatory body has temporarily suspended construction activities on numerous private sites.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on allegations of subversion on Saturday. He was among a gathering petitioning for an separate review into the blaze. An digital signature drive gathered over 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its information was removed.
Two other people, including a past council member, were also detained by authorities, per press accounts.
International Reaction
The rights group and The monitoring body have both condemned the alleged detentions.
"Now is the time for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the catastrophic blaze...rather than muzzling those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.
Background and Resident Profile
The housing estate was constructed in 1983 and had supplied nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 inhabitants, based on a recent official survey.
Nearly 40% of its residents are thought to be over 65 years old. Several have lived in the government-supported development since its construction.
Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on file killed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was caused by a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a sporting venue in 1918, when in excess of 600 attendees died.
