🔗 Share this article The city's Leader Orders Probe into Tragic Fire that Took 151 The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a tragic inferno that claimed the lives of 151 residents. Footage shows rapid pace of fire spread in Hong Kong high-rise. A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale On Wednesday last week, the majority of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that protective netting installed on the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards. A minimum of 13 people have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, including the directors of a construction company. "Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to make certain all these loopholes are eliminated," 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 emergency responders to bring under control. The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the inquiry could require three to four weeks. The inferno is the deadliest the region has witnessed in more than 70 years. Shortcomings Uncovered Multiple inhabitants have said they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the blaze started. Local firefighters discovered that detection devices in each building were malfunctioning. Hong Kong's buildings department has put on hold works on numerous private sites. Demands for Probe and Detentions Additionally, police reportedly detained a individual on charges related to sedition on Saturday. He was part of a gathering petitioning for an separate review into the fire. An digital signature drive amassed over 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its contents were wiped. Another two individuals, comprising a former district councillor, were also taken in by officers, per news outlets. The city's leader John Lee stated that the task force would be chaired by a member of the judiciary. Global Response Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both criticised the said apprehensions. "Now is the time for the local government to transparently investigate the causes of the tragic incident...rather than muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," Amnesty International said. Background and Resident Profile The housing estate was constructed in 1983 and had offered close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 residents, according to a 2021 government census. Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are estimated to be older than 65 years of age. Several have resided in the government-supported development since it was built. Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on record claimed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a commercial building. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when over 600 people perished.