It has been over 24 hours since a fire broke out at a housing complex in Hong Kong, but the flames are still not under control. The fire has been contained in four buildings of the apartment complex, but three others continue to burn, with several people trapped on the upper floors.
Three senior personnel of an engineering firm have reportedly been arrested after the massive blaze, which is considered the worst the city has seen since 1996. They have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. The incident has raised concerns about the renovation and design of high-rise homes.
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At least 55 residents have died, and many more are missing as rescue efforts continue.
Under-repair homes to be inspected
With the fire still raging and causing multiple deaths, Hong Kong authorities have decided to inspect all housing estates undergoing major repairs.
"The government has immediately arranged for inspections of all housing estates across the city undergoing major repairs, to examine the safety of scaffolding and building materials," Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said in a Facebook post.
Earlier, John Lee had announced that nearly 300 people were missing after the fire at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Hong Kong. The complex, located in the suburban Tai Po district, is home to around 5,000 people.
Problems to be checked
Some details emerged from the one building that remained unscathed.
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According to Secretary for Security Chris Tang, some foam boards were seen covering the windows of the building. “These foam boards are highly flammable, and the fire spread very quickly, so we found their presence unusual,” the official said.
Protective netting, waterproof cloth, and plastic sheeting on the outside of the buildings also burned much faster than expected, he added.
The Wang Fuk Estate was built as government-subsidised housing in the 1980s. Around one-third of its residents are elderly, many of whom were seen rushing out in wheelchairs as the fire broke out.
