Anger is simmering over Hong Kong as residents mourn the loss of more than 128 lives in a devastating apartment fire that ravaged a high-rise complex. The blaze, which started on Wednesday afternoon, rapidly spread through seven blocks at the Wang Fuk Court estate in the northern Tai Po district, leaving behind a trail of destruction and heartbreak.
While authorities are still investigating the cause of the disaster, Beijing has stepped in to warn against "anti-China disruptors" who might attempt to use the tragedy to stir up unrest. The city's national security authorities issued a stern warning on Saturday, stating that anyone attempting to incite sedition or disrupt public order would be held accountable and face severe punishment under Hong Kong's national security law.
The online petition calling for government accountability, an independent probe into possible corruption, proper resettlement for residents, and a review of construction oversight has been met with resistance from authorities. One person, university student Miles Kwan, was detained on suspicion of inciting sedition in relation to the blaze. A second petition has also been launched by a Tai Po resident living overseas.
As residents demand answers about the fire's cause and how it could have been prevented, concerns are growing over the government's handling of the disaster. The fire alarms at the estate had not been working properly, and authorities were told just last year that residents faced "relatively low fire risks" despite their complaints about fire hazards posed by the renovation.
Hong Kong is still reeling from pro-democracy protests in 2019, which led to a Beijing-imposed national security law. The city's authorities are on high alert, fearing another wave of unrest could follow the tragic events at Wang Fuk Court.
Donations have poured in from large and small companies as well as other groups to assist the victims. Rescue operations concluded on Friday, although police may still find more bodies as they comb through the hazardous, burnt-out buildings. The fire is Hong Kong's deadliest since 1948, when 176 people died in a warehouse blaze.
As the city struggles to come to terms with the tragedy, one thing is clear: justice and accountability must be served for those responsible, and residents demand answers about how such a disaster could have occurred.
While authorities are still investigating the cause of the disaster, Beijing has stepped in to warn against "anti-China disruptors" who might attempt to use the tragedy to stir up unrest. The city's national security authorities issued a stern warning on Saturday, stating that anyone attempting to incite sedition or disrupt public order would be held accountable and face severe punishment under Hong Kong's national security law.
The online petition calling for government accountability, an independent probe into possible corruption, proper resettlement for residents, and a review of construction oversight has been met with resistance from authorities. One person, university student Miles Kwan, was detained on suspicion of inciting sedition in relation to the blaze. A second petition has also been launched by a Tai Po resident living overseas.
As residents demand answers about the fire's cause and how it could have been prevented, concerns are growing over the government's handling of the disaster. The fire alarms at the estate had not been working properly, and authorities were told just last year that residents faced "relatively low fire risks" despite their complaints about fire hazards posed by the renovation.
Hong Kong is still reeling from pro-democracy protests in 2019, which led to a Beijing-imposed national security law. The city's authorities are on high alert, fearing another wave of unrest could follow the tragic events at Wang Fuk Court.
Donations have poured in from large and small companies as well as other groups to assist the victims. Rescue operations concluded on Friday, although police may still find more bodies as they comb through the hazardous, burnt-out buildings. The fire is Hong Kong's deadliest since 1948, when 176 people died in a warehouse blaze.
As the city struggles to come to terms with the tragedy, one thing is clear: justice and accountability must be served for those responsible, and residents demand answers about how such a disaster could have occurred.
... I'm so frustrated that authorities are already warning people not to incite unrest, when we need them to be transparent about what went down. the fact that fire alarms weren't working properly and residents were told there was 'relatively low risk' of fires despite their complaints is just appalling 
... it's like they're more worried about being seen as 'stable' than actually doing the right thing by the people who need help. the online petitions are a good start, but we need to see some real change from our government 
i cant believe ppl r gettin angry & stuff cuz of a fire but like at the same time u got to feel 4 them victims n their fams 
and yeah, its all wong if ppl r gettin detained for tryna ask questions 
dont think thats right lol what kinda world r we livin in rn 
This is absolutely devastating news 
... it's like a scene from "The Towering Inferno" 
. Beijing stepping in to warn against anti-China disruptors? Come on, can't they see this is about justice and accountability for the real culprits here? 
. The numbers are just heartbreaking - 128 lives lost and many more injured 
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. And have you noticed how quickly Beijing jumped in to warn against "anti-China disruptors"? 
Fire incidents in Hong Kong over the past 5 years
Number of fatalities in public housing fires since 2010
Resettlement plans for affected residents (so far, none)
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meanwhile, who's gonna make sure those in charge are held accountable? 
these authorities are trying to shut down anyone who dares speak out against this tragedy? it's like they're more concerned with covering their own backsides than actually helping the people affected. fire alarms not working properly? that's a huge red flag! how could that be allowed to happen? and now this poor guy is detained for speaking out? not cool, china 
I'm still trying to wrap my head around 128+ lives lost... it's just too much 
Hadn't the gov been told by residents just last year that the alarms weren't working properly?! How could they ignore those warnings and let this happen?! 
. It's crucial that we prioritize transparency and truth-telling in the investigation into this disaster, rather than attempting to cover it up or intimidate critics 
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. Detaining someone over a petition? Like, come on! 
And what's up with those fire alarms not working? Soooo irresponsible 
. But seriously, ppl deserve answers and justice