A terrible fire at a public housing estate in northern Hong Kong has killed at least 159 people, with 31 more still missing. This is the city's deadliest fire disaster in over seventy years. The fire broke out in the Wang Fuk Court complex, a very crowded area that is home to about five thousand people. The tragedy has started a major safety review and led to several arrests. Authorities have also warned people not to use the event to cause political trouble.
The fire started last Wednesday in an eight-building block that was being repaired. Early reports suggest it spread extremely quickly. This was because of highly flammable safety nets around the scaffolding, which may not have met fire safety rules. As the world's worst residential fire since 1980, the event has caused widespread sadness and serious questions about safety rules in construction.
In response, the Hong Kong government has ordered the removal of all such scaffolding nets across the city. The Secretary for Development, Bernadette Linn Hon-ho, said contractors must finish this work by Saturday. It involves around 300 buildings. She promised to hold responsible any contractors who used substandard materials. Investigators are testing samples of the netting, and new rules for building materials are coming soon.
The situation has also become legally and politically complex. Police have arrested at least fifteen people suspected of manslaughter. Another six were detained over fire alarm systems that may have failed. Separately, national security agents detained at least three people. They are accused of using the fire to promote online petitions, which authorities link to trying to create unrest. Both Beijing's office in Hong Kong and the city's leader warned against "external forces" using the tragedy to cause chaos.
While recovery teams still search the damaged buildings, the city must handle two issues. The first is to help the victims' families and make buildings safer. The second is the government's focus on preventing political protest, showing the ongoing tension between public accountability and control in Hong Kong.