Fire crews have managed to bring under control most of the fire that engulfed an apartment complex in Hong Kong, killing at least 83 people. Officials say dozens of people are still missing, and that new information will be available after the search and rescue is completed, said the city’s deputy fire chief, Derek Armstrong Chan.
The Hong Kong police detained two directors and an engineer of the Prestige Construction consulting firm, which was engaged in building maintenance, a day earlier. Suspects of manslaughter were arrested due to the alleged use of inadequate, unsafe materials. Prestige did not respond to media inquiries.
This fire is the deadliest in Hong Kong since 1948, when a warehouse fire killed 176 people.
The leader of Hong Kong, John Lee, announced the formation of a fund worth 300 million Hong Kong dollars (about 39 million US dollars) to help residents affected by the tragedy. Some companies have already announced additional donations.
The fire has once again highlighted the risks of using flammable bamboo scaffolding and safety nets, which are still used on construction sites in Hong Kong today. This traditional technique originates from mainland China and has been used for hundreds of years, despite criticism from experts who warn of its safety concerns.
The tragedy could reshape one of the world’s most expensive real estate markets. Investors are likely to bear significant long-term costs as scrutiny intensifies.
Police say the fire may have been caused by an “extremely negligent” construction firm that used unsafe materials, raising the possibility of stricter safety standards across the industry.
(Vijesti.ba)
