🔗 Share this article The city's Chief Executive Orders Investigation into Tragic Fire that Killed 151 The city's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 individuals. Footage depicts speed of blaze propagation in Hong Kong residential tower. A Fire of Historic Proportions Last Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that protective netting installed on the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance. At least 13 people have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, among them the directors of a construction company. "It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. Hence we must act seriously to guarantee all these deficiencies are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee. The Probe and Its Consequences The blaze—that propagated rapidly both vertically and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it began, and necessitated over 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control. That very day, police began entering the buildings to secure proof. Authorities say the investigation could take several weeks. The inferno is the most fatal the city has experienced in over 70 years. Systemic Failures Identified A number of occupants have stated they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the fire erupted. The city's fire department determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning. Hong Kong's buildings department has halted for now construction activities on numerous private sites. Demands for Probe and Detentions Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of incitement on Saturday. He was part of a gathering demanding an autonomous investigation into the fire. An digital signature drive amassed in excess of 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its page was taken down. Another two individuals, among them a ex-local representative, were also questioned by police, as reported by news outlets. The city's leader John Lee announced that the inquiry would be chaired by a member of the judiciary. International Reaction The rights group and The monitoring body have both criticised the alleged detentions. "Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the devastating fire...rather than suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group. Background and Resident Profile The housing estate was completed in 1983 and had supplied 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 occupants, based on a 2021 government census. Nearly 40% of its residents are thought to be older than 65 years of age. Some have lived in the government-supported development from its inception. The city's second-worst blaze on file took 176 lives in 1948 and was the result of a detonation at street level at a commercial building. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when over 600 attendees lost their lives.