The city's 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 probe the origins of a tragic inferno that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.
A Fire of Historic Proportions
On Wednesday last week, most of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting surrounding the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.
No fewer than 13 people have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, including the senior figures of a building firm.
"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in various phases. That is exactly why we must act seriously to ensure that all these loopholes are addressed," he said.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The fire—advancing with speed both vertically and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it ignited, and necessitated in excess of 2,000 firefighters to contain.
On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the inquiry could require several weeks.
Shortcomings Uncovered
Several residents have reported they failed to hear a emergency siren when the fire broke out. Local firefighters determined that detection devices in every tower were operating inadequately.
The city's construction authority has put on hold works on numerous private sites.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on charges related to incitement on Saturday. He was part of a group calling for an separate review into the fire. An online petition collected more than 10,000 endorsements in less than a day before its contents were wiped.
A pair of additional persons, comprising a ex-local representative, were also detained by authorities, according to news outlets.
International Reaction
The rights group and The monitoring body have both condemned the said apprehensions.
"This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the devastating fire...rather than silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.
Background and Resident Profile
The residential complex was built in the early 1980s and had provided 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 occupants, according to a population count.
Almost four in ten of its occupants are thought to be over 65 years of age. Several have resided in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.
The city's second-most fatal incident on record claimed 176 lives in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 people perished.
