US Edition‘They refused’: Residents urged action on fire safety a year before Hong Kong inferno
Residents and activists warned officials about highly flammable foam panels and scaffolding netting well before the fire, but concerns were initially dismissed by the Labour Department.
- On Wednesday, a fire at Wang Fuk Court, a public housing complex in Hong Kong, killed at least 128 people, injured 78, and left about 200 unaccounted for by Friday’s tally.
- Residents in September 2024 complained about scaffold netting and polystyrene foam panels during renovation works spanning eight towers, initially costing nearly $40 million for nearly 2,000 households.
- City officials on Friday said foam panels were highly flammable and investigators focused on scaffold netting and polystyrene panels, while fire crews reported temperatures reaching 500 degrees that ignited bamboo scaffolding blocking exits.
- The Labour Department said it conducted 16 inspections since July 2024, started three prosecutions and issued six notices before the fire, while police arrested two directors and one consultant and the anti-corruption agency arrested eight people on Friday.
- Activist Jason Poon Chuk-hung said he had pushed city officials about flammable netting for about a year and a half, while the department relied on contractor submissions and found no fault.
10 Articles
10 Articles
More than a year before a fire destroyed a heavenly complex in Hong Kong, the residents warned the authorities about possible violations of the safety standards against fires in a local reform project. This week, their worst fears were realized in one of the most lethal episodes of the recent history of the territory. The fire that began on Thursday at Wang Fuk Court, a housing complex with about 2 thousand apartments, killed at least 128 people…
Star Advertiser
Hong Kong officials warned over a year before deadly inferno | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
HONG KONG >> More than a year before a fire devoured a complex of high-rise towers in Hong Kong, residents alerted officials about potential fire safety violations on a renovation project there.
More than a year ago, residents of the burned-down high-rise complex expressed concerns about combustible materials. Police arrested more suspects.
Anger is boiling over in Hong Kong over the fire in an apartment building that killed at least 128 people, while Beijing issued a stern warning to would-be rioters to... Hong Kong: Anger is boiling over the deadly fire - Authorities are on the move to prevent sporadic protests - ΙΝΑΦΤΕΜΟΠΟΡΙΚΙ
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
