🔗 Share this article

Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

This past Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the estate—which was subject to extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting surrounding the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards.

A minimum of 13 suspects have been arrested for potential negligent homicide, including the executives of a building firm.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to make certain all these loopholes are eliminated," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The blaze—that propagated rapidly both vertically and across the separate towers—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it ignited, and took more than 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.

That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. Authorities say the probe could take several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have said they did not hear a smoke detector when the blaze erupted. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that detection devices in every tower were not working effectively.

Hong Kong's buildings department has put on hold construction activities on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of sedition on Saturday. He was involved with a group petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An internet-based appeal collected over 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its information was removed.

Two other people, including a past council member, were also questioned by authorities, as reported by news outlets.

Global Response

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

"Now is the time for the local government to openly examine the reasons of the devastating fire...as opposed to silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.

Background and Resident Profile

The residential complex was built in the early 1980s and had supplied 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 residents, per a 2021 government census.

Nearly 40% of its residents are believed to be older than 65 years of age. Some have resided in the subsidised housing estate since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on record took 176 people in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when more than 600 people perished.