skip to main content

Suspects arrested as Hong Kong fire death toll hits 151

People leave flowers outside the Wang Fuk Court apartment blocks in the aftermath of the deadly fire in Hong Kong's Tai Po district
People leave flowers outside the Wang Fuk Court apartment blocks in the aftermath of the deadly fire in Hong Kong's Tai Po district

Authorities in Hong Kong have said they made a total 13 arrests over the city's deadliest fire in decades after the blaze killed 151 people last week, a toll that could further rise.

The arrests were made on suspicion of manslaughter as investigators work to piece together what led to the catastrophic fire taking hold so fast in a complex of high-rise apartments.

Officials have been looking at factors including the polystyrene panels and bamboo scaffolding used in a renovation project at the site.

Officials also announced that some of the exterior netting used on scaffolding at the housing estate did not meet fire-resistance standards.

Police representative Tsang Shuk-yin told a news conference that as of 4pm local time (8am Irish time) the fire killed 151 people, up from yesterday's toll of 146.

"We cannot rule out the possibility of this number increasing further," Mr Tsang said.

The blaze that engulfed Wang Fuk Court in Hong Kong's northern Tai Po district was the world's deadliest residential building fire since 1980.

.
Officials said some of the materials at the site did not meet fire-resistance standards

Police have completed searches in five of the estate's eight high-rise blocks.

Mr Tsang said that "some remains have already been reduced to ashes" and that it was possible that some of the people reported missing will not be recovered.

Police said remains have been found inside apartment units, in hallways, and on staircases, and will continue to search the buildings, he said.

Thirteen people have been arrested for manslaughter in relation to the blaze, Chan Tung, director of crime and security of the Hong Kong Police Force, told another news conference.

The group included 12 men and one women aged between 40 and 77.

Local media have reported that police have separately arrested three people for sedition, including 24-year-old student Miles Kwan, who had handed out flyers demanding government accountability over the fire.

Asked about the sedition arrests, Hong Kong security chief Chris Tang said there had been "inaccurate comments online" with the sole purpose of "threatening national security".

"Therefore, we must take appropriate measures, including law enforcement measures. Operational details cannot be disclosed as they involve national security," Tang said.

Mr Kwan was seen leaving a police station today without commenting on his case or confirming if he had been formally arrested.

Officials also announced that some of the exterior netting used on scaffolding at the housing estate did not meet fire-resistance standards.

Seven of the 20 samples collected at various locations in four buildings of Wang Fuk Court did not meet fire-resistance test standards, said chief secretary Eric Chan.

The city has seen an outpouring of grief in recent days.

Thousands have laid flowers and paid their respects over a three-day mourning period, with some of the notes left at the site calling for accountability.