Hong Kong: John Lee, Hong Kong Chief Executive, has ordered the formation of an independent committee to investigate the catastrophic fire that tore through the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, killing at least 151 people in the city’s worst blaze in more than seven decades.
The inferno engulfed seven of the estate’s eight residential tower blocks, while the complex was undergoing extensive renovations. Authorities later found that protective netting wrapped around the buildings did not meet flame-retardant safety standards, allowing the fire to spread rapidly upward and between blocks.
At least 13 people, including directors of a construction company, have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter as investigators examine multiple safety lapses. Work has also been halted on 30 private construction projects across the city as a precaution.
Chief Executive John Lee said the newly established committee, to be led by a judge, would carry out a full review to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
The fire burned for nearly 40 hours and required more than 2,000 firefighters to bring it under control. Police and forensic teams have since begun entering the charred structures to collect evidence, with the full investigation expected to take between three and four weeks.
Fire alarms not functioning across all blocks
Officials confirmed that alarms in all eight residential blocks were not working effectively at the time of the blaze. Several residents reported they did not hear any alarm when the fire erupted.
Authorities say protective mesh netting and other flammable construction materials on the building exteriors helped fuel the rapid spread of the flames.
Wang Fuk Court, built in 1983, housed nearly 4,600 people in 1,984 subsidised units. Almost 40 percent of residents were over the age of 65, according to a 2021 census.
Petitions for inquiry trigger arrests
In a separate development, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on suspicion of sedition after he participated in a petition demanding an independent inquiry into the fire. The online petition had gathered more than 10,000 signatures before the content was removed.
Two others, including a former district councillor, were also taken in, according to local media. Lee declined to comment directly on the arrests, stating only that criminals who commit offences must be taken to justice.
Hong Kong’s deadliest fires on record
The Wang Fuk Court disaster is the deadliest fire in Hong Kong since 1948, when 176 people were killed in a warehouse explosion. The most lethal fire in the city’s history occurred at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, claiming more than 600 lives.
Authorities warn that the death toll from the latest tragedy could rise further as recovery operations continue.
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