Hong Kong Leader Orders Investigation into Fatal Inferno that Killed 151

The city's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to probe the origins of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, seven of eight tower blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that protective netting used around the buildings failed to meet fire safety regulations.

No fewer than 13 people have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, among them the executives of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. We have uncovered shortcomings in different stages. That is exactly why we must take decisive action to ensure that all these loopholes are addressed," stated the leader.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—which spread quickly both upwards and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it started, and took more than 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the inquiry could take three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have said they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the fire erupted. Local firefighters discovered that detection devices in each building were not working effectively.

The city's construction authority has put on hold construction activities on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on allegations of subversion on the weekend. He was involved with a gathering petitioning for an independent inquiry into the fire. An online petition amassed more than 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its contents were wiped.

A pair of additional persons, among them a former district councillor, were also taken in by officers, as reported by news outlets.

Global Response

The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both denounced the said apprehensions.

"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the origins of the tragic incident...as opposed to silencing those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

The residential complex was completed in 1983 and had provided nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 residents, according to a 2021 government census.

Almost four in ten of its residents are believed to be older than 65 years old. Some have resided in the public housing complex since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on file killed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 people lost their lives.