Hong Kong authorities have escalated their criminal investigation into the massive high-rise fire that has claimed 128 lives, making it one of the city’s deadliest blazes.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!On Friday, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) arrested seven men and one woman (aged 40-63), including scaffolding subcontractors, project managers, and directors of an engineering consultant company involved in the renovation of the apartment complex in the Tai Po district. These arrests follow the initial detention of three company directors on Thursday on suspicion of manslaughter and gross negligence.
The devastating fire, which engulfed seven buildings, took 40 hours to fully extinguish. Investigators believe the rapid spread was caused by highly flammable foam panels and bamboo scaffolding materials installed during the renovation, which may not have met fire resistance standards. Fire Services also reported that some alarms in the complex, which houses many elderly residents, failed to sound when tested.
With 200 people still unaccounted for, authorities are warning that the death toll may rise further. The city will observe a period of mourning from Saturday to Monday.
Fatal Renovation: 128 Dead in HK Blaze Blamed on Highly Flammable Foam Panels
The catastrophic high-rise fire in Hong Kong, which has resulted in 128 deaths and left 200 people missing, is now confirmed to have been intensified by highly flammable construction materials.
Preliminary investigations show the fire, which started on a lower-level scaffolding net, spread rapidly after igniting plastic foam panels and netting installed by the Prestige Construction & Engineering Company during a major renovation. Authorities suspect these exterior materials failed to meet required fire resistance standards. Furthermore, first responders found that some fire alarms in the complex were non-operational.
The resulting criminal investigation led by the ICAC has seen the arrests of 11 individuals over two days, including project managers, subcontractors, and company directors, all linked to the renovation. Charges include suspicion of manslaughter and gross negligence. Crews are still searching the charred buildings, which were home to almost 5,000 residents, as the city begins three days of morning.
