Hong Kong fire death toll rises to 151: Details of the disaster
In a human tragedy that has shocked local and international communities, the death toll from the devastating fire that swept through a residential complex in Hong Kong's Tai Po district last week has risen to 151, according to official figures released today. These staggering numbers place the incident among the deadliest fires in the densely populated city's recent history.
Details of the disaster and ongoing investigations
Police official Tsang Shuk-yin confirmed in an official statement today that search and rescue teams have documented 151 deaths, noting that the number is still likely to rise due to the presence of critical cases and missing persons who have not yet been located. In a significant development, the Hong Kong Department of Criminal Investigation and Security announced the launch of a comprehensive and thorough investigation into the circumstances of the incident, which has so far resulted in the arrest of 13 people suspected of negligence or causing the fire.
Current investigations are focusing intensively on the possibility that highly flammable materials were used to contribute to the rapid spread of the fire, specifically the bamboo scaffolding that surrounded the building for maintenance purposes, a traditional building technique commonly used in Hong Kong but which requires strict safety procedures.
Context of bamboo use and risks of population density
To understand the scale of this disaster, one must consider the nature of construction in Hong Kong. The city, one of the most densely populated in the world, has historically relied on bamboo scaffolding for the construction and maintenance of its skyscrapers and apartment complexes. While bamboo is flexible, strong, and inexpensive, it presents a significant fire safety challenge if not treated with fire-resistant materials or equipped with protective nylon netting. This netting can become highly flammable, turning a building into a blazing inferno within minutes, which explains the high number of casualties at the Wang Fok Court complex.
The global importance and impact of the event
This fire, which struck a complex of about 2,000 apartments spread across eight buildings, is ranked as one of the deadliest fires in the world since 1980. The significance of this tragic event lies in its expected impact on safety and building regulations not only in Hong Kong, but in other large, densely populated cities.
This incident is expected to spark heated debates about the need to modernize fire safety systems in older buildings and to reconsider the use of traditional materials like bamboo in light of climate change and rising temperatures. It will also put pressure on the local government to tighten regulations on maintenance and construction companies to ensure that such tragedies, which claim innocent lives, are not repeated.
