Hong Kong Chief Executive Directs Probe into Deadly Inferno that Took 151
Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 residents.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
On Wednesday last week, most of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—which was subject to extensive renovations—went up in flames. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.
At least 13 people have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, comprising the directors of a contractor.
"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. Hence we must take decisive action to guarantee all these deficiencies are addressed," he said.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The blaze—which spread quickly both vertically and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it began, and took over 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.
The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the probe could require approximately a month.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Multiple inhabitants have stated they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the fire broke out. The city's fire department discovered that detection devices in every tower were operating inadequately.
Hong Kong's buildings department has halted for now works on numerous private sites.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on charges related to incitement on Saturday. He was part of a group petitioning for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An digital signature drive collected more than 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its contents were wiped.
Two other people, including a past council member, were also taken in by officers, per local media reports.
International Reaction
Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both condemned the said apprehensions.
"The moment has come for the city's officials to openly examine the causes of the tragic incident...instead of muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.
Historical Context and Demographics
The housing estate was completed in the early 1980s and had supplied nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 residents, per a recent official survey.
Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are believed to be older than 65 years of age. A number have lived in the public housing complex from its inception.
Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on in history claimed 176 individuals in 1948 and was the result of a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in 1918, when in excess of 600 people lost their lives.
