Hong kong: Hong Kong authorities on Monday stated that "substandard netting" used in housing blocs may have contributed to the recent deadly blaze, which resulted in the loss of 151 lives in a residential complex in Tai Po, as reported by local media.
According to Anadolu Agency, during a news briefing, Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki revealed that the suspects employed 'cunning methods' by using a combination of fire-resistant and non-fire-resistant nets. 'Samples which failed the requirements were found in spots difficult to reach, where firefighters had to climb out, to avoid detection from authorities,' Chan explained.
Chan further disclosed that seven out of the 20 samples collected from four buildings at Wang Fuk Court following the fire did not meet fire-retardant standards. The estate, comprising eight residential blocks, had been undergoing renovation since July of last year and was enveloped in scaffolding and green netting.
The blaze, which is the worst fire Hong Kong has seen in decades, began on Wednesday afternoon and raged for 43 hours. It consumed seven residential blocks, including over 1,900 apartments. The fire's rapid spread was attributed to the bamboo scaffolding installed on the exterior for renovation purposes. The complex consists of eight towers, housing an estimated population of over 4,000 residents.
To date, authorities have arrested 14 individuals, including the main contractor, an engineering consultant, and a subcontractor from the scaffolding company. On Monday, five additional bodies were recovered from the buildings, increasing the death toll to 151, with 79 people injured.
On Sunday, local authorities reported that 159 residents who were previously reported missing were found to be 'safe.' However, Tsang Shuk-yin, the officer in charge of the casualty enquiry unit of the Hong Kong Police Force, mentioned that around 40 individuals remain missing, and efforts are underway to locate them. Tsang also noted that 100 cases have been labeled as untraceable due to incomplete information, individuals not residing in Wang Fuk Court, or informants lacking the missing persons' addresses.
This tragic incident marked the first time in 17 years that Hong Kong has issued a Level 5 fire alarm, the highest on the city's five-tier scale.