Hong Kong Fire a Reminder of the Tragic Consequences of Negligence

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A massive fire engulfed a cluster of high-rise apartment buildings in bright flames in the Tai Po district of northern Hong Kong on November 26. Raging into the following day, it has become a major disaster with a high death toll of local and international residents. As of this publication, there were 146 known deaths, dozens of injuries (including firefighters), and over as many as 150 still unaccounted for or missing. The full extent of the deaths and damage is still unknown.

Our condolences go out to the Hong Kong, Philippine, Indonesian, and other families who lost loved ones in the inferno.

Bamboo scaffolding and flammable protective netting used for exterior construction work are believed to have contributed to worsening the damage.

Some people claim that such an awful tragedy would be impossible in Japan, where strict fire prevention measures are in place. But is that truly the case?

A Wakeup Call, Not Only for Hong Kong

Hong Kong had also banned flammable netting. That is why three individuals from the construction company concerned have been arrested on suspicion of negligence resulting in death. Laws are meaningless unless they are followed.

*A massive fire broke out, engulfing a high-rise apartment complex in northern Hong Kong on November 26. (©Kyodo)*

In the classic 1974 disaster movie The Towering Inferno, a massive fire that should never have occurred erupted in a new skyscraper. In that case, it was due to design and construction flaws attributable to the builder's desire to save money by cutting corners. Behind every disaster, there are ー without exception ー flaws or unexpected events.

And such stories are not just the stuff of movies. Remember the 1982 Hotel New Japan fire in the Akasaka district of Tokyo, which killed 33 people? Later, it was discovered that sprinklers were not connected to the water piping. Other issues were also found, such as fire doors that were not closed.

Likewise, a building fire in the Kabukicho entertainment district of Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward killed 44 people in 2001. It turned out that the automatic fire alarm system was turned off. Moreover, the evacuation route was blocked because a staircase was being used as a storage area.

Then there was the 2017 Grenfell Tower Fire in London that killed more than 70 people. Because the building was constructed before current regulations were enacted, builders had no obligation to install sprinklers. The fire-retardant capability of the exterior walls and the state of the fire walls have also been questioned.

Prevention Requires Constant Attention

Therefore, it would be a mistake to dismiss the Hong Kong tragedy as an isolated incident. In fact, large-scale fires that cause enormous damage to people and property can occur anywhere, anytime.

Just recently, for example, a large-scale fire broke out in Oita City, Japan, destroying over 180 houses and other buildings. It occurred in a densely populated residential area lined with wooden houses, including several vacant ones. Similar dangers, such as narrow roads that hinder firefighting efforts, are present in residential areas throughout Japan.

*Searchers in protective gear gather near the fire-ravaged high-rise apartment complex in northern Hong Kong on November 29. (©Kyodo)*

Hopefully, the Hong Kong and Oita conflagrations will serve as a wake-up call for all to check the disaster prevention environment and compliance in local areas.

Do our homes and workplaces have evacuation routes? Are evacuation drills being conducted appropriately? What about fire alarms and sprinklers ー are they in working order? Is an initial firefighting system in place? Many things that need to be done before trouble arises ー are we ready?

Japan and governments everywhere should be reminded once again to strengthen assurances of compliance with laws and regulations for high-rise buildings, residential housing, and other structures. It should not take the devastation of human deaths and destruction after a major disaster to prompt inspections for compliance.