Hong Kong authorities announced on Monday that 13 people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter as investigators probe the city’s deadliest fire in decades. The arrests come as officials point to substandard renovation materials that may have fuelled a blaze now confirmed to have claimed at least 151 lives.
Police continued sweeping through the seven scorched towers of Wang Fuk Court, where Wednesday’s inferno left entire stairwells and rooftops littered with the remains of residents who were unable to outrun the rapidly advancing flames. More than 40 individuals are still missing.
“Some of the bodies have turned into ash, therefore we might not be able to locate all missing individuals,” police official Tsang Shuk-yin told reporters, her voice breaking with emotion.
Investigators said laboratory tests on samples of a green mesh wrapped around bamboo scaffolding failed to meet fire-retardant standards. The material had been installed during renovation work when the fire erupted.
Chief Secretary Eric Chan said contractors used these substandard materials in concealed areas, making them difficult for inspectors to detect.
Officials added that foam insulation used during the renovations also contributed to the spread of the flames and that fire alarms within the complex were not functioning properly.
The tragedy has drawn thousands of mourners, including many paying tribute to at least nine Indonesian domestic helpers and one Filipina who were among the victims. Long lines of people stretched more than a kilometre along a canal beside the estate as the city grieved together.
Authorities said additional vigils will take place in Tokyo, London and Taipei over the coming week.
The disaster has triggered pockets of public anger over previously overlooked fire-risk warnings. Beijing has cautioned that it will crack down on any “anti-China” protests emerging in the aftermath.
Sources said at least one person involved in a petition calling for an independent inquiry and a review of construction oversight was detained for nearly two days.
Police have not commented on the case. Hong Kong Security Chief Chris Tang also declined to address specific operations at a press conference.
“I’ve noticed that some people with malicious intent, aiming to harm Hong Kong and national security, have taken advantage of this painful moment for society,” he said.
“Therefore, we must take appropriate action, including enforcement measures.”
Authorities say the search for victims is now concentrated in the estate’s most heavily damaged towers, a process expected to take weeks. Police images showed officers in hazmat suits wading through fire-soaked hallways, examining rooms with blackened walls and furnishings reduced to ash.
Dozens of officers arrived early Monday to continue the painstaking search.
Census data indicates that more than 4,000 people lived in the affected apartment blocks. Many survivors are now attempting to rebuild their lives after escaping with nothing.
Officials reported that over 1,100 evacuees have moved from emergency shelters into temporary accommodation, while another 680 have been placed in youth hostels and hotels.
Authorities are providing HK$10,000 (US$1,284) per household in emergency funds and offering expedited services for new identity cards, passports and marriage certificates.
Deadliest Blaze Since 1948
The Labour Department confirmed that residents of Wang Fuk Court had previously expressed concerns about fire hazards linked to renovation work. Despite those warnings, authorities said in 2024 that the estate faced “relatively low fire risks”.
A department spokesperson said residents specifically questioned the flammability of the mesh covering the scaffolding as early as September 2024.
The scale of the tragedy has shocked Hong Kong, marking its deadliest fire since 1948, when a warehouse blaze killed 176 people. The disaster comes just days ahead of legislative elections.
Among those caught in the political fallout is 24-year-old Miles Kwan, who was detained on Saturday. He is part of a group pushing for an independent investigation into potential corruption and construction oversight issues.
It is unclear whether he had been formally arrested, but he was seen leaving a police station in a taxi on Monday afternoon.
The South China Morning Post reported that two other individuals have been arrested on suspicion of seditious intent, though police have not confirmed the arrests.
China’s national security office issued a stern warning on Saturday, cautioning against efforts to ignite political unrest similar to the pro-democracy protests of 2019.
“We sternly warn the anti-China disruptors who attempt to ‘disrupt Hong Kong through disaster’,” the office said in a statement. “No matter what methods you use, you will certainly be held accountable and strictly punished.”
