🔗 Share this article Hong Kong Chief Executive Directs Probe into Tragic Fire that Killed 151 Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 residents. Footage reveals speed of fire spread in the city's tower block. A Fire of Historic Proportions This past Wednesday, most of the apartment buildings at the estate—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting surrounding the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards. At least 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, among them the senior figures of a contractor. "It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these deficiencies are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee. The Probe and Its Consequences The inferno—which spread quickly both upwards and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it ignited, and took more than 2,000 fire service personnel to contain. That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the inquiry could last three to four weeks. This blaze is the deadliest the city has witnessed in over 70 decades. Shortcomings Uncovered Multiple inhabitants have said they failed to hear a smoke detector when the fire broke out. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that warning systems in each building were operating inadequately. The relevant regulatory body has halted for now works on numerous private sites. Calls for Inquiry and Arrests In a related development, officers took into custody a individual on suspicion of incitement on the weekend. He was among a gathering petitioning for an independent inquiry into the blaze. An online petition gathered more than 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its page was taken down. Two other people, among them a past council member, were also taken in by authorities, as reported by press accounts. Chief executive John Lee announced that the task force would be chaired by a judicial officer. Global Response The rights group and The monitoring body have both criticised the said apprehensions. "This is the occasion for the city's officials to openly examine the origins of the devastating fire...as opposed to silencing those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said. Historical Context and Demographics Wang Fuk Court was built in the early 1980s and had provided close to 2,000 units for some 4,600 residents, based on a 2021 government census. Nearly 40% of its occupants are thought to be at least 65 years of age. A number have been occupants of the public housing complex since its construction. The city's second-deadliest fire on file took 176 individuals in 1948 and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 individuals died.