Hong Kong Leader Orders Investigation into Fatal Inferno that Took 151
The city's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 residents.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
This past Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting installed on the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.
At least 13 people have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, comprising the executives of a construction company.
"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. That is exactly why we must take decisive action to ensure that all these gaps are addressed," he said.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The blaze—advancing with speed both vertically and across the separate towers—was finally put out by the end of the week, approximately two days after it started, and necessitated in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to contain.
On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the probe could take approximately a month.
Shortcomings Uncovered
A number of occupants have said they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the blaze started. The city's fire department discovered that warning systems in all eight blocks were not working effectively.
The relevant regulatory body has halted for now renovation projects on numerous private sites.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
Separately, officers took into custody a individual on allegations of incitement on Saturday. He was part of a group calling for an separate review into the blaze. An digital signature drive amassed in excess of 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its page was taken down.
Another two individuals, among them a past council member, were also detained by police, according to local media reports.
Global Response
The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the alleged detentions.
"The moment has come for the city's officials to openly examine the origins of the devastating fire...instead of silencing those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.
Background and Resident Profile
The residential complex was completed in the early 1980s and had provided close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 inhabitants, per a population count.
Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are believed to be older than 65 years old. Several have resided in the government-supported development since its construction.
The city's second-most fatal incident on in history took 176 people in the mid-20th century and was caused by a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when more than 600 attendees died.
