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Deadly blaze sparks urgent safety overhaul
Hong Kong authorities have mandated the removal of scaffolding mesh from all buildings undergoing renovations by Saturday, following the city's deadliest fire in decades that claimed 159 lives. Another 31 people remain missing after the inferno engulfed the Wang Fuk Court housing complex last Wednesday.
Investigation reveals flammable safety failures
Officials confirmed that protective netting surrounding the complex, which was under extensive renovation, failed to meet flame-retardant standards. The mesh accelerated the spread of flames across multiple tower blocks, trapping residents inside.
Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho announced new guidelines for testing scaffolding materials would be issued next week. She pledged to hold contractors accountable for using substandard mesh, stating, "We will chase to the end the accountability of any contractors using substandard scaffolding mesh."
Scope of the removal order
The directive affects approximately 300 buildings, including 200 private residential and 10 public housing projects currently under renovation, according to the South China Morning Post. Samples of the mesh have already been collected for further testing.
Search efforts and arrests
Police have detained at least 15 individuals on manslaughter charges as part of the ongoing investigation. Search teams have completed interior sweeps of all seven towers at Wang Fuk Court but continue to comb through collapsed bamboo scaffolding for additional victims.
"We have not finished our work. A lot of bamboo has fallen down. We still need to check if any bodies were covered by the debris."
Police Commissioner Joe Chow
Of the 159 bodies recovered, 140 have been identified, comprising 49 males and 91 females aged between one and 97, Radio Television Hong Kong reported.
Survivors recount horror
A couple in their 70s, who lost their home in the fire, returned to the charred site with their daughter on Wednesday. The mother, identified only as Leung, described the rapid escalation of the blaze:
"It all happened within just an hour or two. I stood there watching as one block after another went up in flames. My legs felt so weak-I could hardly stand. The bamboo scaffolding cracked, and there was banging that sounded like exploding windows. The flames were completely out of control."
Their daughter, Bonnie, expressed concerns about potential corruption, stating, "We hope the truth will come out-whether there were hidden hands behind this, corruption, or any improper dealings."
Next steps
Authorities will continue forensic examinations of the site while enforcing the scaffolding mesh removal deadline. Updated safety protocols are expected to be finalized by early next week.
