3 detained over Hong Kong fire disaster

Three people have been detained in connection with the fire that broke out in a 31-story skyscraper at the "Wang Fuk Court" residential complex during renovation work in the Tai Po district, located in the north of Hong Kong.

Police reported that 3 individuals from Prestige Construction, the company contracted to maintain the building, were detained on charges of "manslaughter."

Police stated that those detained were 2 executives and 1 engineering consultant from the company, noting that the reason for the detention was the charge of "manslaughter" due to the use of unsafe materials during maintenance.

Police said, "We have reason to believe that those responsible at the company were grossly negligent, which led to the accident, causing the fire to spread uncontrollably and resulting in a massive loss of life."

Furthermore, during a raid on the company's office, police seized tender documents, an employee list, 14 computers, and three mobile phones.

Bamboo scaffolding erected on the exterior of the building for maintenance work caused the fire to grow and spread rapidly in a short time. So far, 75 people have lost their lives in the fire, 76 people have been injured, and 300 people remain unaccounted for. Approximately 4,000 people lived in the 1,984 apartments located in the 8 skyscrapers at the site where the fire broke out.