BEIJING– China is launching a nationwide campaign for fire safety inspections in high-rise buildings. The inspections will include the use of flammable or prohibited materials and the presence of escape routes and safety equipment, according to the Ministry of Disaster Management.
The announcement follows a deadly fire in skyscrapers in Hong Kong, which killed at least 128 people last week. Renovations were taking place in the residential complex, including the use of bamboo scaffolding.
The death toll from the fire may rise further, as the fate of many people remains unclear. Approximately 150 people are still missing.
Three-day mourning period
A three-day mourning period began in Hong Kong on Saturday. The city’s top official, John Lee, and other officials observed three minutes of silence. Flags are flying at half-mast at government buildings.
Residents are also laying flowers near the destroyed residential towers and leaving notes with personal messages.
It’s clear that the contractors ignored safety rules — which isn’t unusual in southeast Asia — and used flammable cladding and plastic ties for the bamboo scaffolding that easily melted. The bamboo itself wasn’t a major cause. —Eds