In brief
Following the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court that resulted in 159 deaths, Hong Kong authorities have ordered the removal of scaffolding mesh from all ongoing renovations. Investigations reveal that the protective netting failed to meet safety guidelines, prompting a reassessment of construction safety protocols in the region.
Authorities in Hong Kong have ordered the removal of scaffolding mesh from buildings undergoing renovations by Saturday, as investigations continue into the Chinese territory's deadliest blaze in decades.
It is now known that 159 people died as a result of the fire last Wednesday at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex - with 31 still missing.
Investigators have found that a protective netting used around the complex, which had been undergoing extensive renovations, failed to meet flame retardant standards.
Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said new guidelines for testing materials used in scaffolding would be issued next week.
Around 200 private residential and 10 public buildings are currently undergoing renovations in Hong Kong. About 300 buildings will be affected by the removal order.
Police have made at least 15 arrests for manslaughter as the investigation into the cause of the fire proceeds. On Wednesday, they said they had completed their searches of all seven towers in the complex and will now look for bodies in other parts of the buildings such as the remnants of the bamboo scaffolding.
As investigations unfold, survivors and residents are calling for accountability and transparency regarding construction safety practices and potential negligence related to the use of substandard materials.
A married couple in their 70s who lost their home in the blaze shared their horrifying experience, highlighting the rapid spread of flames and their escalating fears as fire engulfed their home.
