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KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 17): The Hong Kong government will start the inspection of 2,500 older residential buildings after a fire on Sunday that killed seven people, reported the Associated Press today.
"In light of the risks exposed by this fire accident, I have asked the (fire services and building departments) to further step up inspections to eliminate serious fire safety threats to safeguard people's lives and property," Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam was reported saying.
The inspections will focus on the buildings' “common means of escape” and “identifying fire hazards” the Hong Kong government said in a media release. Enforcement actions may be taken including prosecutions, it said.
South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that one of the dead was a nine-year-old child while several others were critically injured.
The daily reported that the fire broke out in a flat suspected to be an unlicensed restaurant.
A police source told the daily that the flat was used as a Nepalese restaurant where a birthday party was being held. Lit candles set soundproofing materials on fire.
Other media stated that people in the restaurant were celebrating Deepavali.
The apartment is located in a tenement building near the junction of Canton Road and Saigon Street in Yau Ma Tei. Many Nepalese work in Hong Kong's finance, retail and security businesses live in the area.
Hong Kong media said the fire was the deadliest since a 2011 blaze that killed nine people.
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