Hong Kong fire: 13 held on suspicion of manslaughter

Authorities in Hong Kong have arrested 13 people on suspicion of manslaughter in relation to last week's devastating fire, as they face growing criticism from residents over the arrests under national security laws of at least two civilians calling for accountability.

- Helen Davidson

Emergency services continued to search through the seven towers of the Wang Fuk Court estate in Tai Po yesterday, days after the city's deadliest fire in 75 years. The death toll rose to 151 and is expected to rise further. About 40 people are still missing.

The estate, home to almost 5,000 people, had been undergoing extensive renovations that have been linked to the fire's cause. In the aftermath, anger has grown over alleged past safety violations by the construction company working at the site and lax enforcement of standards, fuelled by revelations that residents had been complaining about the renovations for a year.

Yesterday afternoon, officials said anti-corruption authorities had arrested 13 people over the disaster so far, including the directors and an engineering consultant of a construction company, and had "immediately begun comprehensive investigation along the lines of manslaughter".