Hong Kong Fire Investigation Reveals Corruption and Neglect in Renovation Work

A devastating fire at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court apartment complex has claimed at least 128 lives, marking the city’s deadliest blaze in decades. Authorities have launched a major investigation into corruption and negligence, focusing on the building’s recent renovation work.

Police have arrested several individuals linked to construction and engineering firms on suspicion of manslaughter and gross negligence. The probe centers on renovation practices that residents had flagged as unsafe more than a year ago. Residents had repeatedly raised concerns, particularly regarding the construction netting used on scaffolding. Hong Kong’s labor department confirmed that it had conducted 16 inspections and issued written warnings, but the issues persisted.

Preliminary findings suggest the fire began on the lower-level scaffolding net and spread rapidly. Highly flammable foam panels contributed to the intensity, shattering windows and exacerbating the blaze. Fire services officials reported that several fire alarms in the complex failed during the emergency, complicating evacuation efforts, especially for elderly residents.

Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly 40 hours, prioritizing residents who had made emergency calls that could not initially be answered. One firefighter lost his life and twelve others were injured during the operation. Search and rescue efforts have now concluded, with authorities continuing the identification process for 89 recovered bodies. Around 200 people were initially reported missing following the disaster.

The city has entered a period of mourning, lowering flags to half-mast. Chief Executive John Lee led a three-minute silence with officials dressed in black. This tragedy surpasses a 1996 commercial building fire that claimed 41 lives, highlighting systemic safety failures and negligence in Hong Kong’s construction oversight.