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More than a year before a massive blaze tore through the Wang Fuk Court housing estate in Hong Kong, residents had raised an alarm over the use of flammable construction materials during ongoing renovation works. Their concerns, largely dismissed at the time, have now resurfaced at the centre of a widening investigation into one of Hong Kong’s worst fire disasters in decades.
The inferno, which broke out on Wednesday afternoon and rapidly spread across seven of the complex’s eight high-rise towers, has so far claimed at least 128 lives. Officials said at least 79 people have been injured, including 12 firefighters, while around 200 residents are still missing. Authorities say the blaze erupted on bamboo scaffolding and protective netting installed for large-scale repairs at the ageing estate, before spreading swiftly due to highly flammable polystyrene boards and foam panels placed around windows.Fire alarms in all eight buildings were found to be malfunctioning, leaving residents with no warning as the flames engulfed their homes.Warnings ignored, accountability questionedResidents had alerted the Hong Kong Labour Department as early as September 2024, raising concerns about fire hazards linked to the scaffolding netting and foam materials. Emails show officials first claimed there were no specific regulations covering flame-retardant standards for such netting. They later assured residents that the materials met safety requirements, citing certificates submitted by the contractor, as reported by The New York Times. Authorities now acknowledge that the foam boards were highly flammable and accelerated the fire’s spread. Security Secretary Chris Tang said the blaze generated extreme temperatures and caused scaffolding to collapse, blocking exits and hampering rescue attempts.Three men associated with the renovation, including the directors and a consultant of the construction company were arrested on Thursday on suspicion of manslaughter and gross negligence.On Friday, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) arrested eight more people, including engineering consultants, scaffolding subcontractors and an intermediary, over suspected corruption linked to the project. Officials are examining whether substandard materials were knowingly used and whether fraud may have been involved in safety certifications.Hong Kong mourns as search efforts continueA three-day official mourning period began on Saturday, with Chief Executive John Lee leading senior officials in observing a moment of silence as flags flew at half-mast. Grief-stricken families continue to search hospitals and victim identification centres for missing loved ones.Relief centres and emergency shelters are housing nearly 900 displaced residents, while authorities warn the death toll may rise further as teams comb through charred units for remains.The tragedy has sparked urgent calls for stronger safety oversight, particularly in older public housing blocks undergoing renovation. Nationwide inspections of scaffolding and construction materials are now underway.As Hong Kong confronts its deadliest blaze since 1948, grieving residents continue to ask why clear warnings went unheeded and whether this devastation could have been prevented.
