Hong Kong Fire Tragedy: 128 Dead, Probe Widens to Contractors and Renovation Safety
Image Source: Internet
A devastating fire swept through Hong Kong's Wang Fuk Court apartment complex in Tai Po, claiming at least 128 lives in one of the city's deadliest blazes. The tragedy has sparked a massive outpouring of support and sympathy, with thousands visiting the site to pay tribute to the dead and donate supplies to those affected. Authorities are investigating whether fire codes were violated during the renovation of the complex, which was clad in bamboo scaffolding and nylon netting, with windows covered by polystyrene panels. The government has suspended work on 28 building projects undertaken by the Prestige Construction & Engineering Company for safety audits. Three men, including directors and an engineering consultant of a construction company, were initially arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. They were later re-arrested by Hong Kong's anti-corruption authorities, who have also arrested eight more suspects, including scaffolding subcontractors and renovation project managers. Preliminary investigations suggest the fire started on a lower-level scaffolding net and spread rapidly inside due to foam panels catching fire and blowing out windows. The flames jumped from building to building, engulfing seven of the eight structures. It took over 40 hours for firefighters to extinguish the blaze. Authorities are working to identify 44 more bodies out of the 128 recovered, with about 150 people remaining unaccounted for. The dead include two Indonesian migrant workers and one Filipino woman who was a domestic helper. In response to the tragedy, the Chinese government has announced a nationwide inspection of high-rise buildings to identify and remove fire hazards. The inspection will focus on safety nets, firefighting facilities, and equipment, among other items.
