The death toll from the deadly blaze that engulfed about eight buildings in Hong Kong on November 26 has crossed 150, the Associated Press reported quoting officials.
The blaze, which left at least 70 people injured took until Friday to fully extinguish and started on the lower-level netting around one building in the Wang Fuk Court complex. It then swept inside as the foam panels caught fire and blew out windows.
Safety nets did not meet fire-safety code
A new probe into the blaze has found that netting that covered scaffolding used in renovations was not up to fire-safety codes.
The fire rapidly spread due to flammable materials used in the scaffolding and potentially combustible construction materials like polystyrene foam on the buildings’ exterior, Al Jazeera reported.
Initial tests of the netting showed it was up to code, but subsequently investigators collected 20 samples from all areas, including higher floors, and found seven failed safety standards. The probe found that contractors skimped to make greater profits, Eric Chan, Hong Kong’s chief secretary, told Associated Press.
“They just wanted to make money at the expense of people’s lives,” he told reporters.
Investigators can now access new areas
Chris Tang, Hong Kong’s secretary for security, said investigators initially hadn’t been able to reach certain areas, which they can now access. This has led to new findings in the probe.
“Because the fire is now out, we have been able to get to places that were not easily accessible before to take samples,” he said.
Donations for survivors reach $115 million
Donations for survivors of the fire had reached 900 million Hong Kong dollars ($115 million) as of Monday, authorities said, as hundreds of people gathered at the accident site to place flowers, cards, and other tributes. “When something happens, we come out to help each other,” a local, identified as Loretta Loh, said after paying her regards at the site.
Approximately 4,600 people lived in the Wang Fuk Court complex in the suburb of Tai Po.
