HONG KONG: This region’s worst incendie in the last eight decades has consumed 146 lives (the figure is bound to augment, as 150 people are still unaccounted for and 79 critically wounded are hospitalised).
Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) has announced: “In view of the immense public interest involved, the ICAC today set up a task force to launch a full investigation into possible corruption in the grand renovation project of Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po.” Relevant authorities have nabbed a dozen executives of the construction company that was carrying out the renovation project of the eight batiments. Those arrested are being interrogated apropos utilisation of sub-standard material that contributed towards the fast spreading of the fire.
Comprising 8 blocks, the housing complex, known as Wang Fuk Court, harboured two thousand apartments. Fire brigade personnel said it was not possible to figure out how many people were inside the batiment as they could not reach the upper floors. However, according to an estimate three hundred individuals are still unaccounted for.
Three executives of a construction company have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. According to sources the 8 towers were being renovated by the same entity that had made the whole complex incendie-prone by packing it with extensive bamboo scaffolding and safety netting. It is pertinent to mention here that Hong Kong’s Labour Department had earlier asked the contractor to take fire safety measures.
Derek Armstrong Chan, Deputy Director Fire Services told the journalists due to extreme temperatures inside the structures, firefighters were facing difficulty: “Debris and scaffolding of the affected building are falling down, posing additional danger to our frontline personnel…Besides, the temperature inside the building is very high, it’s quite difficult for us to enter the building and go upstairs to conduct firefighting and rescue operations…It has become dark so our rescue and firefighting operation is becoming more difficult.”
Newspakistan.tv
