Hong Kong Chief Executive Directs Investigation into Deadly Inferno that Took 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 residents.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
On Wednesday last week, the majority of the residential blocks at the housing complex—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that construction site netting installed on the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.
A minimum of 13 individuals have been taken into custody over alleged culpable homicide, among them the senior figures of a construction company.
"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. Hence we must act seriously to ensure that all these gaps are plucked," stated the leader.
Investigation and Aftermath
The inferno—advancing with speed both vertically and from building to building—was only fully doused by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it started, and required more than 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.
That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. The government indicates the probe could require approximately a month.
Systemic Failures Identified
A number of occupants have reported they did not hear a fire alarm when the incident started. The city's fire department determined that detection devices in every tower were malfunctioning.
The city's construction authority has put on hold works on three dozen private developments.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
In a related development, officers took into custody a individual on suspicion of sedition on the weekend. He was among a collective petitioning for an separate review into the tragedy. An online petition collected more than 10,000 endorsements in less than a day before its contents were wiped.
A pair of additional persons, among them a ex-local representative, were also taken in by authorities, as reported by news outlets.
Global Response
The rights group and The monitoring body have both criticised the alleged detentions.
"This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the causes of the devastating fire...rather than silencing those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.
Background and Resident Profile
The housing estate was completed in the early 1980s and had provided 1,984 apartments for some 4,600 residents, based on a recent official survey.
Almost four in ten of its occupants are believed to be at least 65 years of age. Several have lived in the government-supported development since it was built.
Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on file killed 176 people in 1948 and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a commercial building. The worst was at a local racetrack in 1918, when more than 600 attendees died.
