Hong Kong authorities have arrested thirteen individuals on suspicion of manslaughter following the deadliest fire to hit the city in over seventy-five years. The catastrophic blaze at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex has now claimed 151 lives, with more than 40 people still unaccounted for.
Investigation Points to Substandard Materials
At a press conference on Monday, police revealed the grim scale of the tragedy, which is now considered Hong Kong's worst fire disaster since 1948. Police official Tsung Shuk Yin emotionally told reporters that the identification of all victims may be impossible, stating, "Some of the bodies have turned into ash, therefore, we might not be able to locate all missing individuals."
Investigators overseeing the probe confirmed that critical safety failures contributed to the rapid spread of the fire last week. Tests showed that a green mesh netting wrapped around bamboo scaffolding on the buildings did not meet fire-retardant standards. Chief Secretary Eric Chan stated that contractors working on renovations had used these substandard materials in hard-to-reach areas, effectively hiding them from inspectors.
Officials further disclosed that foam insulation used by the contractors helped fan the flames, and that fire alarms within the complex were not functioning properly at the time of the incident.
Official Response and Public Outcry
The Labour Department acknowledged in a statement to Sky News that its prior response to resident complaints "was unclear and caused misunderstanding." Residents had raised fears over fire safety connected to the extensive renovations as early as September 2024.
In its initial reply, the department told residents that current safety regulations for construction sites did not cover flame-retardant standards for scaffolding netting. It also judged the fire risk from the scaffolding works as "relatively low" because they did not involve activities like welding. The department now says this assessment did not mean the risk was negligible.
The blaze broke out at the Wang Fuk Court complex in Tai Po district last Wednesday. The site, built in the 1980s and home to around 4,800 residents in nearly 2,000 flats, was undergoing a major renovation. On Sunday, over 1,000 people queued for more than a kilometre to lay flowers and pay tribute to the victims.
Petition Organiser Detained by Police
In a related development, police detained 24-year-old Miles Kwan, who was part of a group that launched a petition demanding an independent probe into possible corruption and a review of construction oversight. An online petition with these demands had drawn over 10,000 signatures before it was closed.
Two people familiar with the matter confirmed to Reuters that Kwan was detained on Saturday. He was later pictured leaving a police station in a taxi on Monday afternoon. Police and Security Chief Chris Tang declined to comment on the specific case.
At a separate press conference, Tang stated, "I've noticed that some people with malicious intent, aiming to harm Hong Kong and national security, have taken advantage of this painful moment for society." He added that authorities would take appropriate action, including enforcement measures.
