Three construction company executives arrested over Hong Kong flats fire

A blaze started at a housing estate on Tai Po Road in the northern district of Hong Kong yesterday (26 November).

At least 55 people are confirmed dead and hundreds more are missing as the blaze spread quickly between the 31-storey towers at Wang Fuk Court, which was undergoing refurbishment.

The flats have reportedly been occupied since 1983 and some blocks were clad in bamboo scaffolding when the fire broke out.

Police said in a statement that the protective nets, tarpaulins, and plastic sheets used for maintenance work “may not have been up to fire safety standards”.

They also found that foam boards were installed to the windows of the buildings concerned.

The three men in charge of a construction company are aged 52 to 68, according to police. They were arrested in Ngau Tau Kok, Tai Po, and Wong Tai Sin respectively. All three have been detained for further enquiries.