Hong Kong's leader John Lee has ordered the creation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 people.
Last Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex - which had been undergoing extensive renovations - went up in flames. Investigators have since discovered that a protective netting used around the buildings failed to meet flame retardant standards.
At least 13 people have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, including the directors of a construction company.
The fire is the deadliest the city has seen in more than 70 years and the death toll could rise further as officials continue to recover bodies.
Chief Executive Lee stated that the committee would be led by a judge and would conduct comprehensive reform, adding that he would work to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
In a recent news conference, when asked about his job security, Mr. Lee acknowledged that reform was needed but did not directly address the question. He expressed the necessity of acting seriously to address identified failures across different stages.
The catastrophic fire spread quickly upwards and between the blocks, and it was not fully extinguished until about 40 hours after it began, demanding the efforts of more than 2,000 firefighters.
After the incident, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence, with an investigation expected to take three to four weeks.
Officials indicated that the rapid spread of the flames was fueled by the protective mesh netting and other flammable materials attached to the building's exterior. Numerous residents reported a lack of functioning fire alarms during the blaze, and the Hong Kong fire service confirmed that alarms across all eight blocks were ineffective.
Consequently, the buildings department has temporarily halted work on 30 private projects to reassess safety protocols.
In a separate development, police detained a 24-year-old man suspected of sedition for participating in a group calling for an independent inquiry into the fire; public outcry resulted in an online petition that gathered over 10,000 signatures before it was taken down.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, criticized the unreported arrests of two additional individuals, including a former district councilor, urging the Hong Kong authorities to pursue a transparent investigation into the fire rather than silencing dissent.
Wang Fuk Court, which opened in 1983, provided 1,984 apartments and housed approximately 4,600 residents, with a significant portion being elderly individuals. Historical context highlights that the city's second-deadliest fire occurred in 1948, leading to 176 fatalities.
