Those arrested include consultants, subcontractors and project managers linked to the renovation of the high‑rise estate engulfed in the deadly blaze.
What Happened: Arrests Underway After Devastating Fire
- The city’s anti‑graft watchdog, Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), said on November 28, 2025 that it arrested eight individuals connected with the renovation work at Wang Fuk Court.
- The group includes seven men and one woman, aged between 40 and 63. Arrested are scaffolding subcontractors, directors of an engineering‑consultant firm, and project managers overseeing the renovation.
- ICAC also searched several offices and residences, seizing construction documents, work records and bank papers from 13 premises linked to the renovation project.
Background: How the Fire Unfolded
- On November 26, 2025, a massive fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court — a residential estate undergoing renovation. Seven of its eight towers were engulfed.
- The blaze killed at least 128 people, with hundreds still missing, making it the deadliest building fire Hong Kong has seen in decades.
- Investigators said the fire spread rapidly, aided by highly flammable materials used during renovation — including unsafe foam panels and external netting/scaffolding — that failed to meet fire‑safety standards.
Why Authorities Are Investigating
- The arrests come amid suspicion that the renovation involved corruption and use of substandard materials that contributed to the fire’s rapid spread.
- The ICAC’s investigation aims to uncover who authorised unsafe materials and whether safety or legal standards were deliberately ignored — potentially amounting to criminal negligence.
- Prosecutors may bring charges ranging from corruption to manslaughter or gross negligence depending on evidence.
What Happens Next
- With documents seized and multiple suspects in custody, ICAC and police will examine renovation records, procurement logs, and safety‑compliance certificates linked to Wang Fuk Court.
- Authorities plan to inspect other high-rise buildings undergoing renovation across Hong Kong — especially those with similar scaffolding or external works — to prevent further tragedies.
- Families of victims and residents have demanded full transparency, accountability, and stricter enforcement of building‑safety codes.
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