Authorities in Hong Kong have ordered the removal of scaffolding mesh from buildings undergoing renovations by Saturday, as investigations continue into the Chinese territory's deadliest blaze in decades.
It is now known that 159 people died as a result of the fire last Wednesday at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex - with 31 still missing.
Investigators have found that a protective netting used around the complex, which had been undergoing extensive renovations, failed to meet flame retardant standards.
Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said new guidelines for testing materials used in scaffolding would be issued next week.
Around 200 private residential and 10 public buildings are currently undergoing renovations in Hong Kong. Approximately 300 buildings will be affected by the removal order.
I assure the public that we will chase to the end the accountability of any contractors using substandard scaffolding mesh, Linn was quoted as saying.
At Wang Fuk Court, flames spread quickly across the separate tower blocks on protective mesh netting and other flammable materials on the outside of the buildings, officials said.
Police have made at least 15 arrests for manslaughter as the investigation into the cause of the fire proceeds. Police Commissioner Joe Chow stated that searches of the interiors of all seven of the complex's towers were completed, and they now need to look for bodies in the remnants of the bamboo scaffolding.
We have not finished our work... a lot of bamboo has fallen down. We still need to do some work... to see if any bodies were covered by the bamboo, he noted.
140 of the 159 bodies found to date have been identified, including those of 49 males and 91 females, aged between one and 97. Families of the victims continue to search for answers about the tragedy.
One survivor recounted her terrifying experience, witnessing flames engulfing multiple buildings and expressing the desperate hope that the truth behind the incident will be revealed, amidst fears of corruption and negligence.
