Hong Kong’s anti-corruption authorities have arrested eight more people linked to the massive fire that killed 128 people earlier this week, as reported by CNN.
The seven men and one woman, aged 40 to 63, include scaffolding subcontractors, directors of an engineering consultancy, and project managers were detained on Friday.
The probe began on Thursday, a day after the fire. Earlier, three men from a construction company had already been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.
Police have not released details about their identities or workplaces. At least 128 people are confirmed dead and more than 79 injured, with 200 people missing.
Officials said the number is likely to rise, as around 200 people remain unaccounted for. Hong Kong’s Secretary for Security Chris Tang warned the situation was still critical. Firefighters are in their third day of rescue operations, expected to finish the final search later on Friday.
‘Fire alarms not functional’
Investigators found that fire alarms in all eight buildings of the complex were “not functional” after the blaze, according to Director of Fire Services Andy Yeung. It is still unclear if the system was working when the fire started, though some residents told CNN the alarm never sounded.
Seven of the eight 32-storey towers caught fire after construction materials and bamboo scaffolding on the buildings’ exteriors fueled the blaze. Windy conditions and high temperatures also slowed down rescue efforts and made it impossible to use helicopters.
Police also discovered plastic foam panels, described as highly flammable, attached near elevator lobbies in one tower. Officials are investigating why the scaffolding and materials used in the renovation caught fire so quickly.
Thousands affected
The complex has nearly 2,000 apartments and around 4,800 residents. Hong Kong leader John Lee said to CNN on Wednesday that contact had been lost with 279 people.
Hundreds who escaped or were outside when the fire began are staying in temporary shelters, including a nearby school. Volunteers and workers are distributing water, food and other essentials.
Bamboo scaffolding has been widely used in Hong Kong for centuries due to its flexibility in tight spaces. However, since 2018, 23 deaths have been linked to scaffolding-related accidents, the Construction Industry Council explained to Reuters.
