In brief
Hong Kong is reeling from its deadliest fire in 63 years after a blaze at Wang Fuk Court claimed at least 128 lives and left many in critical condition. The fire, fueled by substandard renovation materials, has led to arrests and calls for accountability, as survivors express outrage over safety protocols. Investigations are ongoing as authorities inspect similar residential buildings for safety compliance.
Shock is giving way to anger in Hong Kong after a massive fire ripped through a densely populated subsidised housing estate on Wednesday, killing at least 128 people and critically injuring dozens.Authorities say substandard mesh and plastic sheets on the buildings' windows may have spread the blaze, which raged for more than a day.Firefighting operations have now ended, with dozens of residents still unaccounted for.Questions are mounting as to how the fire at Wang Fuk Court spread so rapidly and who is responsible, with many calling it a 'man-made disaster'.Three people in charge of renovating the blocks are under arrest for manslaughter, and authorities have launched a corruption inquiry.A post that has gone viral on social media in the wake of the blaze reads: It's not an accident. Several residents have revealed in interviews that the fire alarm did not sound when the fire broke out.Kiko Ma, who owns an apartment at Wang Fuk Court, says the alarms had been turned off amid renovation works. She claims that the renovation firm used poor quality, flammable materials and expresses disbelief that preventative measures were overlooked.The fire, Hong Kong's deadliest in at least 63 years, surpassed the toll of the 1962 inferno that killed 44 people in Sham Shui Po, which also saw hundreds displaced.Initial reports indicate that the fire was exacerbated by flammable construction materials and inadequate fire safety protocols, raising concerns about systemic neglect in safety practices across similar housing estates.Authorities are now facing scrutiny over their renovation oversight, following complaints from residents about inadequate safety measures and transparency in renovations. Inspectors have been ordered to check the safety of scaffolding and materials in all housing estates undergoing major repairs.
