The city's Leader Orders Investigation into Deadly Blaze that Took 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 residents.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
On Wednesday last week, seven of eight apartment buildings at the estate—which was subject to significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that protective netting surrounding the buildings failed to meet flame retardant standards.
A minimum of 13 suspects have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, among them the executives of a construction company.
"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. That is exactly why we must act seriously to guarantee all these gaps are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee.
Investigation and Aftermath
The blaze—which spread quickly both upwards and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it ignited, and necessitated over 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.
That very day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the inquiry could require approximately a month.
Systemic Failures Identified
Multiple inhabitants have said they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the incident erupted. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that warning systems in every tower were malfunctioning.
The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended works on numerous private sites.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on allegations of sedition on the weekend. He was part of a group calling for an separate review into the fire. An online petition collected over 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its information was removed.
A pair of additional persons, including a past council member, were also questioned by police, as reported by press accounts.
Global Response
The rights group and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the alleged detentions.
"This is the occasion for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the tragic incident...instead of muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.
Background and Resident Profile
The housing estate was built in the early 1980s and had provided nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 residents, based on a population count.
Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are thought to be older than 65 years of age. Some have been occupants of the public housing complex from its inception.
The city's second-deadliest fire on file claimed 176 lives in 1948 and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when over 600 individuals perished.
