HONG Kong authorities on Monday arrested 13 people on suspicion of manslaughter as investigators probe the city’s deadliest fire in decades, blaming substandard renovation materials for fueling the inferno that has now killed at least 151 people.
Police continued sweeping seven charred residential towers at the Wang Fuk Court estate, where bodies were recovered from stairwells and rooftops, evidence of residents trapped while attempting to escape Wednesday’s massive blaze.
More than 40 people remain missing.
“Some of the bodies have turned into ash… we might not be able to locate all missing individuals,” said police official Tsang Shuk-yin, her voice breaking.
Investigators said tests on samples of green mesh wrapped around bamboo scaffolding during renovation works failed to meet fire-retardant standards.
Contractors allegedly used these substandard materials in hard-to-reach areas to evade detection, Chief Secretary Eric Chan said.
Foam insulation used in the project also intensified the flames, while fire alarms in the complex were not functioning properly, officials added.
Thousands have lined up, forming queues stretching more than a kilometer, to mourn the dead, including at least nine Indonesian domestic workers and one Filipino. Vigils are expected this week in Tokyo, London, and Taipei.
As public anger grows over ignored fire-risk complaints, Beijing has warned against “anti-China” demonstrations.
Sources said one person involved in a petition calling for an independent inquiry and construction oversight reforms was detained for two days. Police have not commented on the case.
Hong Kong Security Chief Chris Tang, speaking at a press conference, accused individuals of exploiting the tragedy to undermine national security. “We must take appropriate action, including enforcement measures,” he said.
SEARCH ENTERS MOST DAMAGED BUILDINGS
Authorities said the search in the worst-hit towers could take weeks. Police images showed officers in hazmat suits navigating rooms with collapsed walls, charred debris, and ankle-deep water left from days of firefighting.
More than 4,000 people lived in the affected blocks. Over 1,100 evacuees have been moved to temporary housing, while nearly 700 others were transferred to youth hostels and hotels.
Households are receiving HK$10,000 ($1,284) in emergency funds, and fast-tracked services have been set up for lost identity documents.
DEADLIEST BLAZE SINCE 1948
Residents had raised fire-safety concerns as early as September 2024, including warnings about the flammability of the scaffolding mesh, but authorities last year assessed the risks as “relatively low,” according to the Labour Department.
The disaster is Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since 1948, when a warehouse blaze killed 176 people, and comes just days before legislative elections.
Police also detained 24-year-old Miles Kwan on Saturday, part of a group calling for an independent probe, though Reuters could not confirm if he was formally arrested.
Two other people have since been taken into custody on suspicion of seditious intent, one media source reported.
China’s national security office warned against using the tragedy to stoke unrest reminiscent of the 2019 pro-democracy protests. “Anti-China disruptors… will certainly be held accountable and strictly punished,” it said.