Hong Kong Chief Executive Orders Probe into Fatal Fire that Killed 151

Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that killed at least 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, seven of eight residential blocks at the housing complex—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting surrounding the buildings failed to meet fire safety regulations.

At least 13 people have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, including the executives of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. Hence we must take decisive action to make certain all these loopholes are eliminated," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The blaze—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it ignited, and required more than 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the probe could require several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have stated they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the fire started. Hong Kong's fire service determined that alarms in each building were not working effectively.

The relevant regulatory body has put on hold renovation projects on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, police reportedly detained a individual on suspicion of incitement on the weekend. He was among a gathering petitioning for an separate review into the fire. An digital signature drive collected over 10,000 endorsements in less than a day before its page was taken down.

Two other people, among them a former district councillor, were also detained by police, per news outlets.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both condemned the said apprehensions.

"This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the causes of the tragic incident...rather than suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

The residential complex was constructed in 1983 and had offered nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 residents, per a 2021 government census.

Nearly 40% of its residents are believed to be over 65 years old. Several have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate from its inception.

The city's second-deadliest fire on file took 176 individuals in 1948 and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when more than 600 attendees lost their lives.