Hong Kong arrests 13 on suspicion of manslaughter over apartment fires

"Authorities in Hong Kong have arrested 13 people on suspicion of manslaughter in relation to last week's devastating fire, as they face growing criticism from residents over the arrests under national security laws of at least two civilians calling for accountability. Emergency services continued to search through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po on Monday, days after the city's deadliest fire in 75 years."

"In the aftermath, the city has been racked by anger over alleged past safety violations by the construction company working at the site and lax enforcement of standards, fuelled by revelations that residents had been complaining about the renovations for a year. On Monday afternoon officials said anti-corruption authorities had arrested 13 people over the disaster so far, including the directors and an engineering consultant of a construction company, and had immediately begun comprehensive investigation along the lines of manslaughter."

"Hong Kong's chief secretary, Eric Chan, said seven of 20 tested samples of the mesh netting used in scaffolding around the towers did not meet fire-retardant standards. Initial testing had found samples were up to code, but Chan said the cheaper noncompliant netting was put in areas difficult to access in order to evade detection, describing it as a shameful act. They just wanted to make money at the expense of people's lives, he said."

Emergency services continued searching seven towers at Wang Fuk Court after the city's deadliest fire in 75 years, with the death toll at 151 and about 40 people still missing. The estate housed almost 5,000 residents and had been undergoing extensive renovations linked to the blaze. Anger surged over alleged past safety violations by the construction company and lax enforcement, after revelations that residents complained about the renovations for a year. Anti-corruption investigators arrested 13 people, including company directors and an engineering consultant, and opened a comprehensive manslaughter investigation. Tests found seven of 20 mesh samples failed fire-retardant standards, and cheaper noncompliant netting was reportedly placed to evade detection.

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