Hong Kong Leader Orders Probe into Fatal Fire that Took 151
The city's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 people.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
On Wednesday last week, most of the apartment buildings at the estate—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that protective netting installed on the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.
At least 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, including the directors of a construction company.
"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. Hence we must act seriously to ensure that all these gaps are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The fire—that propagated rapidly both upwards and between the blocks—was finally put out by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it began, and required more than 2,000 firefighters to contain.
On that day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. The government indicates the investigation could last approximately a month.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Several residents have said they failed to hear a smoke detector when the fire erupted. The city's fire department determined that alarms 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, police reportedly detained a young man on allegations of sedition on the weekend. He was involved with a gathering petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An online petition gathered more than 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its information was removed.
Two other people, comprising a ex-local representative, were also questioned by police, per news outlets.
Global Response
The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both criticised the alleged detentions.
"The moment has come for the local government to openly examine the origins of the tragic incident...instead of suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.
Background and Resident Profile
The residential complex was built in the early 1980s and had supplied nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 occupants, based on a population count.
Nearly 40% of its residents are thought to be at least 65 years old. Some have been occupants of the public housing complex since it was built.
The city's second-most fatal incident on record killed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was caused by a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when over 600 attendees lost their lives.
