HONG KONG — Authorities in Hong Kong arrested three individuals, including two company directors, on suspicion of manslaughter following a devastating five-alarm fire in the Tai Po district that claimed at least 44 lives and injured 66 others, including a firefighter. The predawn inferno at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex on Tuesday exposed potentially lethal fire safety breaches, prompting a large-scale investigation that continued into Thursday morning with police raiding the offices of the implicated engineering firm.
The fire, one of the deadliest residential blazes in the city’s history, swept through the complex with alarming speed, overwhelming residents and rescue teams. Early assessments by the Fire Services Department indicate that unauthorized construction materials may have exacerbated the intensity and spread of the flames. Firefighters reportedly discovered external wall coverings, including protective netting, waterproof tarpaulin, and plastic sheeting, which may have failed to meet essential fire resistance standards.
Adding to the gravity of the findings, investigators observed a nearby, unburned tower within the same complex where windows outside lift lobbies on every floor were sealed with polystyrene foam. Officials suspect that the high flammability of such materials could have contributed significantly to the rapid propagation of the fire, potentially turning relatively minor incidents into large-scale tragedies.
Police confirmed that three men, aged between 52 and 68, were detained on suspicion of manslaughter due to gross negligence leading to significant loss of life. All three are believed to be senior figures—two directors and one engineering consultant—affiliated with the company responsible for recent works at the housing complex.
On Thursday morning, investigators from the Hong Kong Police Force descended upon the engineering firm’s offices located in the Tai Lik Industrial Centre on Tai Yau Street in San Po Kong. Officers spent several hours conducting searches, seizing a large volume of documents and digital evidence pertinent to the investigation.
“The evidence gathered suggests serious breaches of duty of care, which we believe directly contributed to the tragic outcome,” a police spokesperson stated during a brief update. “We are examining all contracts, safety certifications, and materials used.”
Around 9 a.m., an individual believed to be one of the suspects was escorted from the building by plainclothes officers, his head covered in a black cloth, as several boxes of evidence were loaded into police vehicles.
The incident has immediately triggered a renewed public debate over the enforcement of building and fire safety codes in Hong Kong’s dense, high-rise environment. Critics argue that the use of non-compliant, highly flammable materials, often utilized to cut costs or speed up construction, represents a systemic risk that city regulators have failed to adequately police.
Experts warn that in densely populated urban centers, seemingly minor deviations from fire safety regulations can have catastrophic consequences. The focus now shifts to whether the arrests mark the beginning of a larger crackdown on negligence within the construction industry, ensuring improved standards for the millions of residents living in similar housing estates across the territory. The investigation remains ongoing, with further arrests not ruled out.
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