Hong Kong police detain suspects as number of fire fatalities exceeds 150

Authorities in Hong Kong have detained 14 individuals in connection with the citys most lethal fire in decades, after investigations revealed that exterior netting on buildings was "substandard" and unable to prevent flames from spreading. The official death toll, raised to 151 on Monday as additional bodies were discovered, has triggered widespread mourning across the financial hub.

The fire, the deadliest residential blaze worldwide since 1980, ignited on Wednesday at Wang Fuk Court, a high-rise complex in Tai Po districts northern area. The flames rapidly engulfed the apartment towers, which were under renovation with bamboo scaffolding, protective netting, and foam boards covering nearly 2,000 units.

Officials confirmed that seven out of 20 netting samples from four damaged towers failed fire safety standards. "We now believe the fire's intensity was likely due to the netting not meeting fire-resistance standards, combined with the foam boards," stated security chief Chris Tang during a press briefing.

The city's anti-corruption commission and police have jointly investigated the incident, arresting 14 people, 13 of whom are suspected of manslaughter. Eric Chan, Hong Kongs second-ranking official, described the accused as "shameful" and "cunning," accusing them of deliberately mixing substandard netting to cut costs and placing it in hard-to-reach areas.

Police completed searches in five of the seven towers, raising the confirmed death toll from 146 to 151. "We cannot rule out the possibility that this number will rise," said police representative Tsang Shuk-yin. So far, 104 victims have been identified, though some remains were reduced to ashes, making recovery impossible in certain cases. Remains have been located inside apartments, hallways, and staircases, and searches of the remaining towers are ongoing.

Images released by authorities show walls blackened with soot and destroyed furniture and belongings scattered throughout. Among the deceased are one Filipino and nine Indonesians, with 30 Indonesians still missing. Families of victims have returned to Wang Fuk Court to perform traditional funeral rituals, which are expected to continue into Tuesday.

As of Monday evening, over 1,900 households applied for the HK$10,000 ($1,280) emergency cash relief, and around 2,400 individuals utilized government emergency shelters. A small park near the burned buildings continues to serve as a site for flowers and tribute notes. Many messages demand accountability, including one stating: "Hope your deaths were not in vain, the truth must come out for your sakes."

Student Miles Kwan, 24, was reportedly detained on charges of "seditious intent" after distributing flyers calling for government responsibility over the fire. An online petition listing Kwans four demands, including an independent inquiry, gained over 10,000 signatures in less than a day before being removed. Two others, including former district councillor Kenneth Cheung, were also taken by authorities. Kwan left the police station Monday in a taxi without confirming formal arrest, while Cheung confirmed on Facebook that he was home on bail.

Security chief Tang commented on the arrests, saying online reports contained "inaccurate comments" intended to "threaten national security," necessitating law enforcement action. Beijing imposed a national security law in Hong Kong in 2020 following large pro-democracy protests, and a supplementary local security law passed last year increased penalties for sedition, with maximum sentences of seven years. By November, Hong Kong had arrested 348 individuals for national security offenses and convicted 172.

Author: Sophia Brooks