At least 151 people died in the fire at the Wang Fuk Court apartment complex, with bodies found on stairwells and rooftops as residents tried to escape the blaze.
The police arrested 13 people on suspicion of manslaughter, while an additional 12 were arrested in an anti-corruption investigation related to the renovation of the complex. It is not known whether the individual arrests coincide, writes Reuters.
The authorities point out that the plastic mesh and insulating foam used during the building renovation work contributed to the rapid spread of the fire through the seven high-rise towers where more than 4,000 people live. Tests showed the materials did not meet fire safety standards, and some of the equipment was hidden from inspection, said Chief Secretary Eric Chan.
Residents of Wang Fuk Court warned about the danger of combustible materials back in September 2024, but then they received an answer that the risk was “relatively low”, the city’s Ministry of Labor announced.
The authorities also state that the alarms did not work properly and that the insulating foam further accelerated the spread of the fire.
After some civic groups demanded more transparency, the police detained one student, and local media reported that two more people were being investigated for possible incitement to riot. The police did not comment on the cases.
“I will not tolerate the abuse of tragedy to commit crimes,” Chief Executive John Lee said at a press conference.
International human rights organizations claim the opposite.
“Critical voices must not be criminalized,” said Elaine Pearson of Human Rights Watch, warning against attempts to suppress criticism.
China’s National Security Bureau warned citizens not to use the tragedy to “plunge Hong Kong back into chaos” like the one in 2019, when mass pro-democracy protests sparked a political crisis, Index reports.
Despite the tragedy, Sunday’s local elections will go ahead as planned. They could serve as an indicator of public dissatisfaction with the way the government handled the fire.
About 30 missing persons are still being searched for. The two most heavily damaged towers have yet to be fully searched, and authorities warn that the search could take weeks.
Photos from the scene show investigators in protective suits inspecting apartments whose walls have been blackened and furniture reduced to ash. The Hong Kong SPCA says more than 60 pets died in the fire, while more than 200 were rescued.
About 1,500 residents were moved from reception centers to temporary accommodation, while an additional 945 people were cared for in hostels and hotels. The authorities have provided emergency one-time aid of 10,000 Hong Kong dollars (about 1,180 euros) per household and accelerated issuance of documents such as identity cards and passports.
(Vijesti.ba)
