🔗 Share this article

The city's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 individuals.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, seven of eight apartment buildings at the estate—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting used around the buildings failed to meet flame retardant standards.

No fewer than 13 people have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, among them the senior figures of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. Hence we must act seriously to make certain all these loopholes are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—advancing with speed both upwards and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it ignited, and took in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the investigation could last approximately a month.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have reported they did not hear a smoke detector when the blaze started. Local firefighters determined that detection devices in every tower were operating inadequately.

The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended construction activities on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, police reportedly detained a young man on charges related to incitement on the weekend. He was among a group calling for an independent inquiry into the blaze. An online petition gathered over 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.

Another two individuals, comprising a past council member, were also taken in by police, per local media reports.

Global Response

The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both condemned the reported arrests.

"The moment has come for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the reasons of the devastating fire...as opposed to silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was completed in the early 1980s and had supplied 1,984 apartments for some 4,600 inhabitants, per a population count.

Nearly 40% of its residents are estimated to be older than 65 years old. A number have lived in the subsidised housing estate since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on in history took 176 people in 1948 and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when more than 600 individuals died.