Missed Warnings in Hong Kong’s Fire Stir Outrage

Hong Kong is racing to find those accountable for the city’s deadliest fire in nearly eight decades. With more than 150 people dead, outrage over the catastrophe now threatens to rekindle dissent the Communist Party has devoted the past six years to eradicating.

Authorities have blamed the styrofoam boards, substandard netting that encased the towers and inoperable fire alarms for contributing to the high death toll — all factors generating public outrage unseen since Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law in 2020. Now, a Bloomberg investigation — including a review of project documents and interviews with residents — shows a series of missed opportunities to prevent the tragedy.