A fatal conflagration consumed the 360-unit Wang Fuk Court, a highrise residential building owned by the Hong Kong government. With 132 dead, this tragedy is the deadliest such incident since 1948. The fire ignited, according to the incident report, on Wednesday afternoon, October 11. Tragically, it has already taken the lives of at least 128 people, with about 150 others still unaccounted for. As the city continues to mourn this tragedy, authorities have kicked off a massive investigation into what led to this disaster.
Wang Fuk Court is made up of eight 32-storey blocks, seven of which were completely on fire during the tragedy. The whole complex was in the middle of a major renovation, bamboo scaffolding and green mesh enfolding the buildings. Officials worry that inappropriate corruption and misconduct plague the foam insulation materials and installation processes. They think these materials, considered hazardous, were incorrectly stacked on the blocks.
In response to the destruction caused by the fire, local authorities have arrested 11 individuals tied to the protest. Investigators are still hard at work figuring out what started the fire. They are further investigating if any safety protocols were breached.
Thousands of rescue workers have been mobilized to search for remains within the smoking ruins of the complex. Rescue efforts formally ended on Friday, but police officers are still sifting through rubble in order to find those still missing. The massive scale of the search effort alone indicates the severity of this tragedy. Across the world, families and friends anxiously await news of their loved ones.
China’s national security agencies are hitting back hard against the new developments. They’ve sent a message to anyone they deem to be such “anti-China disruptors.” They warned not to use the disaster as a way to stir up chaos in Hong Kong.
“We sternly warn the anti-China disruptors who attempt to ‘disrupt Hong Kong through disaster’. No matter what methods you use, you will certainly be held accountable and strictly punished under the Hong Kong national security law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance.” – China’s national security authorities
As investigations continue, the city is left to mourn its losses. In the meantime, legislators have the opportunity to address the most urgent aspects of building safety and our emergency preparedness. The fire at Wang Fuk Court serves as a stark reminder of the importance of stringent regulations in construction and renovation practices.