Hong Kong police have detained three men on suspicion of manslaughter following the massive blaze that swept through a large residential complex, leaving at least 44 people dead and more than 270 unaccounted for, according to CNN. All three worked for a construction company involved in renovating the site, which had been wrapped in bamboo scaffolding and safety netting at the time the fire erupted. Authorities say the arrests relate to what they describe as “gross negligence” connected to the incident.

Further reading: Hong Kong Tower Inferno Leaves At Least 13 Dead and Hundreds Displaced

More than 20 hours after the blaze began, firefighters were still battling pockets of fire inside the damaged buildings. The scale of the destruction has triggered widespread concern in a city known for its stringent safety regulations and modern infrastructure. Questions are emerging about how such a deadly fire could occur in a metropolis dominated by high-rise towers and generally strong oversight of construction standards. Officials have described the rapid spread across several tall apartment blocks as highly unusual.

Although fires do occur in the densely populated city of 7.5 million residents, fatal incidents have historically been rare, especially in comparison to other high-rise hubs such as New York. However, recent data indicates a worrying trend. Figures from Hong Kong’s Fire Services Department show that fire-related deaths have climbed over the past decade. In 2024 alone, 33 people lost their lives in fire incidents, with causes ranging from kitchen accidents to improperly handled cigarette ends, matches and candles, as well as electrical malfunctions.

The previous year, 2023, saw 31 fire deaths - the highest total in more than two decades, according to the Legislative Council Secretariat’s research office. A decade earlier, in 2013, only 12 fatalities were recorded. This steady rise has now been thrust back into public debate as investigators try to establish how last week's inferno became one of the deadliest in Hong Kong’s recent history.