🔗 Share this article Hong Kong Chief Executive Orders Investigation into Deadly Blaze that Took 151 Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that claimed the lives of 151 people. Footage reveals velocity of blaze propagation in the city's tower block. A Fire of Historic Proportions Last Wednesday, most of the tower blocks at the estate—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations. No fewer than 13 individuals have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, among them the executives of a building firm. "This is indeed a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these gaps are eliminated," he said. The Probe and Its Consequences The fire—advancing with speed both vertically and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it started, and necessitated in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to contain. The same day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the inquiry could require several weeks. The fire is the deadliest the region has experienced in over 70 decades. Systemic Failures Identified Several residents have reported they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the blaze started. Hong Kong's fire service found that detection devices in all eight blocks were not working effectively. Hong Kong's buildings department has put on hold renovation projects on three dozen private developments. Calls for Inquiry and Arrests In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on allegations of sedition on Saturday. He was among a collective petitioning for an separate review into the tragedy. An online petition amassed in excess of 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its information was removed. Two other people, comprising a ex-local representative, were also detained by police, according to press accounts. Chief executive John Lee said that the inquiry would be headed by a member of the judiciary. Global Response The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both criticised the said apprehensions. "Now is the time for the city's officials to openly examine the causes of the catastrophic blaze...instead of silencing those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said. Historical Context and Demographics Wang Fuk Court was completed in 1983 and had supplied nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 occupants, per a 2021 government census. Nearly 40% of its occupants are believed to be older than 65 years of age. A number have lived in the public housing complex since it was built. The city's second-deadliest fire on in history took 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 individuals died.