On November 26, Hong Kong witnessed a deadly fire in Wang Fuk Court in the city’s northern Tai Po district, it is a crowded high-rise complex was engulfed in flames. The death toll has mounted to 159, and left missing. And now, a student union-run notice board at Hong Kong Baptist University which has been monikered the ‘democracy wall demanded justice. The board has now been blocked, though the message remains visible from even behind the tall barricades. “We are Hongkongers. Urge the government to respond to public demands so justice can be done,” the notice stuck on the democracy wall highlighted.
Initial investigation findings suggest that the netting used around the bamboo scaffolding is usually used during repair work and during construction. The residential complex, which was engulfed in flames, was undergoing major renovations. And was due the ongoing work, the building was surrounded by scaffolding wrapped in net aided the fire to spread wild and caused damage to life and property. It was later learnt that the net did not meet fire-resistance standards. Authorities noted that the probe highlighted the “substandard” netting on building exteriors that failed to stop the fire from spreading. The investigation found that seven of 20 the netting samples from the site failed to meet fire safety standards, as reported by news agency AFP. According to news agency AFP, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn on ordered all Hong Kong buildings undergoing major maintenance to remove their netting by Saturday.
So far Hong Kong made 15 arrests in connection with the worst blaze in decades, which claimed at least 159 lives. Arrests have been made on suspicion of manslaughter and those detained include construction company bosses. The police arrested 6 more people over the fire alarm malfunction. As the fire broke out, the fire alarm in the society failed to alert the residents. It is the world’s deadliest residential complex fire since 1980.
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