TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hong Kong authorities said on Monday, December 1, 2025, that 13 people have been arrested over suspected murder in connection with the city’s deadliest fire in decades.
The blaze, which swept through the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, is believed to have been fueled by substandard renovation materials.
According to Al Arabiya, the fire claimed at least 151 lives. It has highlighted the dangers of living in densely populated housing estates, particularly older public housing where safety standards are often inadequate.
Police continue to search seven damaged towers, discovering bodies in stairwells and on rooftops, trapped while trying to escape the flames. More than 40 people remain missing.
Authorities said the intensity of the fire was worsened by a “chimney effect” created by bamboo scaffolding, complicating identification.
“Some of the bodies have turned into ash, therefore we might not be able to locate all missing individuals,” said police official Tsung Shuk Yin during a press briefing on Monday.
Substandard Renovation Materials Under Investigation
Investigators are focusing on bamboo scaffolding and green protective netting that covered the buildings, a common sight in Hong Kong’s skyline. Tests on several netting samples revealed that they did not meet fire-resistance standards, according to officials overseeing the probe.
Renovation contractors reportedly used substandard materials in hard-to-access areas, effectively hiding them from inspectors, said Chief Secretary Eric Chan. Foam insulation also contributed to the fire’s spread, while fire alarms in the complex were reportedly not functioning properly.
Thousands of mourners have paid tribute to the victims, including at least nine domestic workers from Indonesia and one from the Philippines.
Funeral queues stretched over one kilometer along the canal beside the housing complex. Memorials are also planned this week in Tokyo, London, and Taipei, officials said.
Political Tensions and Crackdown on Dissent
The tragedy comes at a sensitive time for Hong Kong, just days before legislative elections. Authorities are on high alert, concerned that public grief could fuel anti-government sentiment similar to the pro-democracy protests in 2019.
Amid public anger over missed fire warnings and unsafe construction practices, Beijing has warned that any anti-China protests will be dealt with strictly.
“We sternly warn the anti-China disruptors who attempt to ‘disrupt Hong Kong through disaster’. No matter what methods you use, you will certainly be held accountable and strictly punished,” the office said in a statement.
At least one person involved in a petition calling for an independent investigation was detained for around two days, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Since sweeping legislative changes in 2020, including the National Security Law and Article 23, public criticism of government competence can sometimes be interpreted as incitement or sedition. Hong Kong police have not commented on arrests but said they would act according to the law.
On Saturday, police detained 24-year-old Miles Kwan, part of a group petitioning for an independent investigation into potential corruption and construction oversight failures, sources said. Kwan was seen leaving the police station by taxi on Monday.
Two others have also been arrested on suspicion of incitement, according to the South China Morning Post.
The Chinese National Security Office warned citizens not to exploit the disaster to “plunge Hong Kong back into the chaos” like in 2019, when massive pro-democracy protests challenged Beijing and triggered a political crisis.
Ongoing Search for Victims
Police official Amy Lam said the remaining buildings to be searched are particularly challenging, and the final stage of recovery could take weeks. Images released by police showed officers in hazmat suits, face masks, and helmets inspecting blackened rooms and navigating water used to fight the fire over several days.
The apartment blocks housed more than 4,000 residents, according to census data. Evacuees are trying to resume normal life, with over 1,100 moved to temporary housing centers and 680 placed in youth hostels and hotels.
Authorities have offered HK$10,000 (approximately Rp21 million) emergency funds per household and special assistance for replacing identification cards, passports, and marriage certificates.
Questions are emerging about how long authorities knew of the risks. Residents of Wang Fuk Court were told last year that the complex posed a “relatively low fire risk” after they raised concerns about unsafe renovation practices, according to the Labor Department.
In September 2024, residents warned that the contractor’s use of flammable mesh could be hazardous.
This fire is the deadliest in Hong Kong since 1948, when 176 people died in a warehouse blaze. Ahead of the upcoming elections, the government faces the dual challenge of managing the humanitarian crisis while maintaining strict control over the political narrative.
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