Hong Kong Leader Orders Investigation into Fatal Blaze that Killed 151

Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 individuals have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, including the executives of a building firm.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in various phases. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these deficiencies are addressed," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—advancing with speed both vertically and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, approximately two days after it began, and took over 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the investigation could last approximately a month.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have reported they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the incident erupted. Hong Kong's fire service determined that alarms in every tower were not working effectively.

Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on allegations of sedition on the weekend. He was among a collective demanding an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal gathered in excess of 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.

Two other people, among them a former district councillor, were also taken in by authorities, as reported by press accounts.

Global Response

The rights group and Another watchdog have both condemned the reported arrests.

"The moment has come for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the devastating fire...rather than muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

The residential complex was built in 1983 and had offered 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, according to a recent official survey.

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are thought to be at least 65 years old. Some have been occupants of the public housing complex since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on record took 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when more than 600 people lost their lives.