HONG KONG – A devastating fire that ripped through a Hong Kong apartment complex in 2025 and killed 168 people was “preventable”, lawyers told a committee investigating the blaze in closing statements on July 17.

The Nov 26 fire at Wang Fuk Court was the world’s deadliest residential building blaze since 1980.

It engulfed seven of the eight high-rise blocks, which were covered in bamboo scaffolding, protective netting and foam boards for renovations.

Almost all fire safety measures failed that day because of human errors, the judge-led panel heard over five sessions since March.

The disaster “was preventable but not prevented, and foreseeable but not foreseen”, leading counsel for the committee Victor Dawes told the hearing on July 17.

Former Wang Fuk Court residents attending the hearing wiped away tears as Dawes detailed the rapid spread of the fire.

Evidence suggests the fire was likely caused by a lit cigarette that was improperly disposed of, he said.

The fire alarm and hose systems were switched off for the renovations, and foam boards placed over the windows, blocking residents’ view, the counsel’s submissions said.

Building contractors “knowingly created a massive fire risk” by using non-fire-retard...