Hong Kong orders scaffolding nets removed after deadly fire

Hong Kong authorities have ordered scaffolding nets from buildings undergoing renovations to be removed by Saturday, as an investigation into the city’s worst fire in decades continues.

It is understood that a fire broke out in the Wang Fook Court residential complex last Wednesday, killing 159 people and 31 people are still missing.

Investigators found that the protective netting used around the complex had been undergoing extensive renovations and failed to meet fire-retardant standards.

Development Secretary Lam Hon-how said new scaffolding material testing guidelines will be released next week.

About 200 private residences and 10 public buildings are currently undergoing renovation works in Hong Kong.

South China Morning PostThe territory-based company said about 300 buildings would be affected by demolition orders.

“I would like to assure the public that we will hold any contractor responsible for using substandard scaffolding netting to account,” Lynn said.

Samples have been taken from the grid for testing, she added.

At Wang Fook Court, flames quickly spread to individual towers covered in protective mesh and other flammable materials on the outside of the building, officials said.

As the investigation into the cause of the fire deepens, the police have arrested at least 15 people for manslaughter.

On Wednesday, they said they had completed searches inside all seven towers of the complex and would now look for bodies in other parts of the building, such as remnants of bamboo scaffolding.

“We haven’t done our job yet,” said Police Chief Joe Zhou.

“As you can see… a lot of bamboo has fallen. We still need to do some work… to see if there are any bodies covered by bamboo.”

He added that of the 159 bodies found so far, 140 have been identified, including 49 men and 91 women, aged between 1 and 97 years old. RTHK report.

A couple in their 70s who lost their home in the fire returned to the charred site with their daughter on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

“It all happened within an hour or two,” said the mother, who only goes by her first name: Liang.

She continued: “I stood there, watching building after building on fire. My legs were weak and I could barely stand. When I saw this scene, I felt completely helpless. I still don’t understand how the fire spread so violently and engulfed building after building. It was terrible.”

“The bamboo scaffolding cracked and there was a loud bang that sounded like a window exploding and the fire was completely out of control.”

Her daughter Bonnie added: “We also hope the truth will come out – whether there was a mastermind behind this, corruption or any improper dealings.”