Hong Kong Leader Orders Probe into Deadly Fire that Claimed Lives of 151

Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the housing complex—which was subject to significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting used around the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, including the senior figures of a contractor.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to make certain all these gaps are plucked," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—that propagated rapidly both vertically and from building to building—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it ignited, and took over 2,000 firefighters to subdue.

That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the inquiry could last approximately a month.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have reported they did not hear a fire alarm when the incident erupted. Hong Kong's fire service found that warning systems in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended works on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, police reportedly detained a young man on charges related to subversion on Saturday. He was among a gathering calling for an separate review into the fire. An internet-based appeal gathered in excess of 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its page was taken down.

A pair of additional persons, among them a former district councillor, were also taken in by officers, as reported by local media reports.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both denounced the alleged detentions.

"Now is the time for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...rather than muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was constructed in 1983 and had provided close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 occupants, based on a 2021 government census.

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are believed to be over 65 years of age. Several have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on file took 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in 1918, when over 600 individuals died.