Hong Kong Leader Orders Probe into Tragic Fire that Took 151
The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that claimed the lives of 151 people.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
On Wednesday last week, most of the tower blocks at the estate—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that protective netting installed on the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.
No fewer than 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, including the executives of a construction company.
"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to make certain all these deficiencies are addressed," stated the leader.
Investigation and Aftermath
The blaze—advancing with speed both upwards and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it started, and required in excess of 2,000 firefighters to subdue.
The same day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the probe could require several weeks.
Systemic Failures Identified
Multiple inhabitants have reported they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the incident erupted. Hong Kong's fire service determined that detection devices in every tower were operating inadequately.
The relevant regulatory body has halted for now works on 30 private projects.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
Additionally, officers took into custody a individual on allegations of subversion on Saturday. He was part of a collective demanding an autonomous investigation into the fire. An online petition collected more than 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its contents were wiped.
Another two individuals, among them a past council member, were also taken in by authorities, per news outlets.
International Reaction
The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the alleged detentions.
"The moment has come for the Hong Kong authorities to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the devastating fire...rather than suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.
Historical Context and Demographics
The residential complex was completed in the early 1980s and had provided 1,984 apartments for some 4,600 residents, per a population count.
Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are thought to be at least 65 years old. A number have lived in the public housing complex from its inception.
The city's second-most fatal incident on in history took 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when over 600 attendees died.
