Authorities in Hong Kong have ordered all buildings currently under renovation to remove their scaffolding mesh by Saturday as investigations continue into what has become the most devastating fire in the city in several decades. The tragic blaze at the Wang Fuk Court residential complex last Wednesday has now claimed the lives of 159 people, while 31 others remain unaccounted for. The scale of the disaster has shaken Hong Kong and raised urgent questions about construction safety and material standards across the region.
Investigators determined that the protective netting wrapped around the buildings at Wang Fuk Court did not meet the required flame resistant standards. The complex had been undergoing extensive renovation work, and the materials commonly used for scaffolding were found to be highly flammable, allowing the fire to spread rapidly across multiple towers. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon ho stated that updated guidelines for testing construction materials would be released next week to prevent such failures in the future.
Deadly Blaze Prompts Hong Kong To Mandate Urgent Removal Of Scaffolding Mesh
At present, about 200 private residential buildings and 10 public properties in Hong Kong are undergoing renovation. Local media outlet the South China Morning Post reported that roughly 300 buildings will need to comply with the new removal order. Linn assured the public that authorities intend to pursue full accountability for any contractor found to be using substandard mesh or other unsafe materials. She confirmed that samples of scaffolding mesh from various sites had already been collected for detailed testing.
Officials described how the fire at Wang Fuk Court spread along the exterior of the towers, moving swiftly across the protective mesh and other combustible substances attached to the building surfaces. Police have arrested at least 15 individuals on suspicion of manslaughter as part of the ongoing investigation. On Wednesday, police announced that they had completed their interior search of all seven towers and would now examine other structural remnants, including fallen bamboo scaffolding, to locate any additional victims.
Police Commissioner Joe Chow explained that although the internal searches were complete, significant work still remained. He noted that large amounts of bamboo from the collapsed scaffolding were scattered throughout the site and that teams would continue inspecting these materials to determine whether any bodies were trapped underneath. According to local broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong, investigators have identified 140 of the 159 victims. The deceased include 49 males and 91 females, ranging in age from one year old to 97 years old.
Amid the ongoing recovery efforts, survivors have begun revisiting the tragic site. A married couple in their seventies who lost their home in the blaze returned with their daughter to view the ruins. The mother, identified only as Leung, described the horrifying speed at which the flames engulfed the buildings. She recalled standing helplessly as one tower after another caught fire. The collapse of bamboo scaffolding and the sound of shattering windows intensified the chaos as the blaze spiraled out of control.
Her daughter Bonnie expressed hope that investigators would uncover the complete truth behind the disaster. She raised concerns about whether deeper issues such as corruption or improper dealings may have contributed to the tragedy. For many in Hong Kong, answers cannot come soon enough as the city grapples with both grief and uncertainty.
Also Check:
- EU Moves to Freeze Russian Sovereign Assets Indefinitely as Tensions with Moscow Escalate
- Slovakia Chalk Revolution: How One Teenager’s Protest Sparked a Nationwide Movement
- Ukraine’s Zelenskyy calls for collective pressure after Russia hits cities again
- Russia Launches New Strikes on Ukraine Amid US Optimism in Negotiations
- Loganair Applies For New Licence To Operate Key Inter Island Route
Source: BBC
