Hong Kong fire: Contractors accused of using substandard materials in hard-to-reach areas

Wang Fuk Court estate was undergoing renovations when a blaze broke out that claimed at least 146 lives, with 40 people still missing.

Officials overseeing investigations told reporters at a news conference that tests on several samples of green mesh that was wrapped around bamboo scaffolding on the buildings at the time of the blaze did not match fire retardant standards.

Contractors working on the renovations used these materials in hard-to-reach areas, effectively hiding them from inspectors, Chief Secretary Eric Chan said.

Meanwhile, the use of foam insulation also fanned the flames and fire alarms at the complex were not working properly, officials have said.

The apartment blocks were home to more than 4,000 people, according to census data. It may take weeks to scour the buildings for remains.

More than 1,100 people have been moved out of evacuation centres into temporary housing, with a further 680 put up in youth hostels and hotels, authorities said.

Residents of Wang Fuk Court were told by authorities last year they faced “relatively low fire risks” after complaining about fire hazards posed by the renovations, the city’s Labour Department said.

The residents raised concerns in September 2024, including about the potential combustibility of the mesh contractors used to cover the scaffolding, a department spokesperson said.

Hong Kong’s deadliest fire since 1948, when 176 people died in a warehouse blaze, has stunned the city, where legislative elections are due to be held this weekend.