FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
At least 55 people have been rescued so far by firefighters, while more than 250 people are missing...
The toll from the tragic event that occurred in Hong Kong, where a building complex was engulfed in flames, continues to rise, with the number of victims reportedly reaching 75, according to the latest update from local authorities.
Hundreds of others were injured during the evacuation of buildings, most of whom suffered respiratory problems. At least 55 people have been rescued so far by firefighters, while more than 250 people are missing.
Fire officials said flames in four of the eight apartment blocks in the neighborhood had been extinguished and that three fires were under control. One building was not affected.
Firefighters have yet to reach the upper levels of some of the 31-story towers, although an elderly man was rescued alive from his top-floor apartment earlier today. Emergency crews are continuing to work to save as many lives as possible from the buildings engulfed in flames and smoke, while an investigation continues into the causes of the tragic event.
Police suspect the fire was caused by negligence on the part of the construction company. Hong Kong police allege that unsafe scaffolding and foam materials used during maintenance work may have been the cause of the rapid spread of the fire, and three people from the construction company involved in the case have been arrested.
The Independent Anti-Corruption Commission has already announced that it has set up a working group to investigate the case, which has sparked a huge public outcry.
There have been ongoing complaints about the renovation, including allegations that alarms were set off months ago by construction workers and that workers were smoking on site. There have also been wider concerns about safety standards for the mesh used on the site.
A video being widely shared on Thursday shows a local council member setting fire to a piece of green construction netting and watching it quickly melt and burn.
Police added that the buildings were covered with protective netting and plastic sheets that did not meet fire standards. It is also believed that the fire spread to bamboo scaffolding around the building and was possibly aided by windy conditions. Bamboo scaffolding is a common sight on construction sites in Hong Kong, although the government has said it is being phased out for safety reasons.
Construction standards in Hong Kong are relatively high and have improved greatly in recent decades, but the Industrial Accident Victims' Rights Association, a local advocacy group, expressed deep concern about the scaffolding-related fires, noting similar incidents in April, May and October.
Although fire risk was not cited as a reason for the gradual removal of bamboo scaffolding, according to the association there have been at least three fires involving bamboo scaffolding this year.
China's leader, Xi Jinping, called for an "all-out effort" to extinguish the fire and minimize casualties and losses, while residents expressed anger online over the possible causes of the fire./ Pamphlet
Lini një Përgjigje