Hong Kong Police Blame Scaffolding and Foam for Devastating Fire That Killed 75 People
The Hong Kong police have alleged that the rapid spread of a devastating fire at a residential tower complex, which has killed at least 75 people and left over 250 missing, was due to unsafe scaffolding and foam materials used during maintenance work. The fire is thought to have started on bamboo scaffolding around one of the eight apartment blocks in the estate and was probably aided by windy conditions.
According to police officials, the company's responsible parties were found to be grossly negligent, leading to the accident and the uncontrollable spread of the fire, resulting in major casualties. Three men from the construction company have been arrested, including two directors and one engineering consultant.
The blaze is believed to have started when a foam material, installed by a contractor carrying out maintenance work, sealed some windows on one unaffected building. The government has identified Prestige Construction and Engineering Company as the registered contractor for the building complex and said that if any violations of fire safety regulations are found, the case will be referred to the BD for handling.
Bamboo scaffolding is widely used in Hong Kong construction sites, despite being phased out for safety reasons due to concerns about fires associated with this type of structure. The Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims has expressed deep concern over these incidents and noted that there have been at least three such fires involving bamboo scaffolding this year.
The fire has sparked comparisons to the Grenfell Tower inferno in London, where 72 people lost their lives due to flammable cladding being fitted on the exterior of the building. However, unlike the Grenfell inquiry findings, which criticized multiple firms and governments for their role in the disaster, the Hong Kong investigation appears to focus primarily on the company's negligence.
The victims' families have been left to grapple with the devastating consequences of the blaze, with many expressing outrage at possible causes of the fire. The government has pledged an "all-out effort" to extinguish the fire and minimize casualties and losses, but questions remain about how such a disaster could occur in one of Hong Kong's most densely populated areas.
As the search for missing persons continues, residents are left to wonder what will happen to them and their homes, while authorities struggle to come to terms with the scale of the tragedy.
The Hong Kong police have alleged that the rapid spread of a devastating fire at a residential tower complex, which has killed at least 75 people and left over 250 missing, was due to unsafe scaffolding and foam materials used during maintenance work. The fire is thought to have started on bamboo scaffolding around one of the eight apartment blocks in the estate and was probably aided by windy conditions.
According to police officials, the company's responsible parties were found to be grossly negligent, leading to the accident and the uncontrollable spread of the fire, resulting in major casualties. Three men from the construction company have been arrested, including two directors and one engineering consultant.
The blaze is believed to have started when a foam material, installed by a contractor carrying out maintenance work, sealed some windows on one unaffected building. The government has identified Prestige Construction and Engineering Company as the registered contractor for the building complex and said that if any violations of fire safety regulations are found, the case will be referred to the BD for handling.
Bamboo scaffolding is widely used in Hong Kong construction sites, despite being phased out for safety reasons due to concerns about fires associated with this type of structure. The Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims has expressed deep concern over these incidents and noted that there have been at least three such fires involving bamboo scaffolding this year.
The fire has sparked comparisons to the Grenfell Tower inferno in London, where 72 people lost their lives due to flammable cladding being fitted on the exterior of the building. However, unlike the Grenfell inquiry findings, which criticized multiple firms and governments for their role in the disaster, the Hong Kong investigation appears to focus primarily on the company's negligence.
The victims' families have been left to grapple with the devastating consequences of the blaze, with many expressing outrage at possible causes of the fire. The government has pledged an "all-out effort" to extinguish the fire and minimize casualties and losses, but questions remain about how such a disaster could occur in one of Hong Kong's most densely populated areas.
As the search for missing persons continues, residents are left to wonder what will happen to them and their homes, while authorities struggle to come to terms with the scale of the tragedy.
... I mean, you'd think that using bamboo scaffolding would be a thing of the past by now, especially after all the fires we've had in recent years. And foam materials? That's just ridiculous 
. It sounds like a recipe for disaster.
. I mean, who uses bamboo scaffolding and foam materials in 2025?! It's not like it was some obscure material or something. And to think those guys are going to face consequences... it's about time 
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It's like they're invisible. The authorities should be doing more to find out what happened to them, not just leaving it to the families to deal with the uncertainty 
. I mean, come on! Get on top of this thing already! 
, can't believe this is happening again 
. Bamboo scaffolding and foam materials? How did these companies get away with using such hazardous materials in the first place?! 
It's like they're playing a deadly game of Russian roulette with people's lives 
. The investigation should be focusing on why these types of materials are still being used despite being phased out for safety reasons 
. This incident is a huge wake-up call for Hong Kong's construction industry, and it's time for them to get their act together 
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. The victims' families deserve justice, and we should be demanding answers from those responsible 
. It's heartbreaking to see so many people affected by this tragedy, and I can only imagine how traumatic it must be for their loved ones 
. We need to do better, Hong Kong 
it's just not right. And that bamboo scaffolding thing is so worrying - I've seen people talking about how outdated it is and how it's only being used in Hong Kong because no one wants to deal with the hassle of using safer alternatives.
The fire's spread so fast it's like a wildfire - that's no surprise given how lax the authorities are when it comes to enforcing safety protocols. We're just lucky it didn't happen on a Tuesday... 