🔗 Share this article

Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that took a minimum of 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that protective netting surrounding the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.

A minimum of 13 people have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, comprising the senior figures of a building firm.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. Hence we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these loopholes are addressed," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—which spread quickly both upwards and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, approximately two days after it began, and required in excess of 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

The same day, police began entering the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the inquiry could require approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have stated they did not hear a smoke detector when the fire erupted. Local firefighters found that detection devices in each building were malfunctioning.

The city's construction authority has put on hold construction activities on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on allegations of sedition on Saturday. He was part of a collective petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An online petition collected in excess of 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its page was taken down.

Two other people, among them a former district councillor, were also detained by police, as reported by local media reports.

Global Response

The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both condemned the alleged detentions.

"The moment has come for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...rather than muzzling those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was built in the early 1980s and had supplied close to 2,000 units for some 4,600 inhabitants, based on a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are believed to be over 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on file took 176 individuals in 1948 and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when over 600 people lost their lives.