A massive fire broke out on Wednesday in the residential towers, Wang Fuk complex, in the Tai Po district of northern Hong Kong.
Initially it seemed to be a fire that later turned into inferno that took 44 lives, with 279 people still missing and dozens left in critical condition in the midst of the chaotic situation.
Some residents are still trapped in fire-devoured buildings. But in the rescue work, more than 900 residents have safely been evacuated to temporary shelters.
As per authorities’ reports, three construction company executives have allegedly been arrested on the grounds of manslaughter. According to sources, these construction workers were found to be connected to flammable materials, including plastic sheet and mesh, that may have allowed fire to spread too quickly.
According to a fire safety expert, bamboo scaffolding could be the reason for the spread of fire to an unprecedented level.
Prof Jiang also suggested the blocks at Wang Fuk Court were “relatively old” – they were built in the 1980s – so “the glass windows are not that fire resilient”.
“The modern buildings have double pane glass windows, but for this one they perhaps used just a single pane… [which makes it] very easy to be broken by the flames and the flames can then penetrate through the facade,” he told BBC News.
After 18 hours of unrelenting efforts, the officials said that they have somehow controlled the fire, while classifying massive fire a level 5 blaze, the most serious level.
