Hong Kong fire: at least 159 dead and thirteen arrested
Chan Tung, security chief of the Hong Kong police, told the press that his officers "immediately opened an in-depth investigation for manslaughter."
Hong Kong
Police in Hong Kong said Monday they had so far detained 13 people in connection with the giant fire at a residential complex that left at least 159 people dead.
Chan Tung, Hong Kong police security chief, told reporters that his officers "immediately opened an in-depth investigation for manslaughter," leading to the arrest of 13 people.
Among them are 12 men and one woman, ranging in age from 40 to 77 years old.
Authorities also indicated that some of the protective netting used in the renovation work on the residential complex did not meet fire standards.
"Police collected samples from 20 different points in the Wang Fuk complex over the past two days," explained a Hong Kong government official, Eric Chan.
The towers "did not meet fire standards"
According to him, the samples of seven of those points, collected in four of the seven burned towers, "did not respond to the anti-fire standards."
The death toll rose to 159, five more than in the previous report.
Fire alarms in Hong Kong buildings were malfunctioning
"We found that the alarm systems in eight buildings were not working properly. We will take enforcement action against the contractors responsible," Andy Yeung told a news conference.
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