An independent committee has been established by Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee to investigate a significant fire that resulted in the deaths of at least 151 individuals. The incident occurred last Wednesday at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, where renovations were in progress. Initial findings from investigators indicated that the protective netting around the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards.
Thirteen people, including construction company directors, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. This fire is reported to be the deadliest in Hong Kong in over 70 years, with the death toll potentially increasing as recovery efforts continue.
The independent committee will be overseen by a judge and is tasked with examining the circumstances surrounding the fire and implementing reforms to prevent similar occurrences in the future. During a news conference, when questioned about his own accountability, Lee acknowledged the need for reform but did not provide a direct answer.
The fire, which spread rapidly across multiple tower blocks, was completely extinguished by Friday morning, approximately 40 hours after it ignited. More than 2,000 firefighters were involved in the firefighting efforts. It has been noted that alarms in all eight blocks were ineffective, which may have contributed to the high casualty rate.
In light of the tragedy, the local building department has temporarily halted work on 30 private construction projects. Separately, police detained individuals connected to an independent inquiry into the fire, prompting international organizations like Amnesty International to call for transparency in the investigation rather than the suppression of dissent.
Wang Fuk Court, constructed in 1983, housed nearly 4,600 residents, with around 40% of its residents aged 65 or older. Hong Kong’s second-deadliest fire occurred in 1948, resulting in 176 fatalities.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8ng18p7v3o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss