Almost one week after a deadly fire tore through several tower blocks in Hong Kong’s Wang Fun Court housing complex, questions are being asked about whether materials used during renovation works had contributed to the blaze. The death toll has continued to climb, now sitting at 156 people as of December 2nd. Approximately 30 people are still missing.
City leaders have established an independent committee to investigate the cause of the blaze, while 15 people have been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter. Here is a summary of what we know so far.
Before the fire
The Wang Fuk Court complex was constructed in 1983, comprising eight residential towers each rising 31 levels. The scheme is located in Tai Po, a residential district in northern Hong Kong, close to the city of Shenzhen. In total, the complex contains 1,984 apartments housing over 4,600 residents. Approximately 40% of the residents are aged 6…
Original article: The Hong Kong high-rise fire: what we do and don’t know
