The fire that destroyed the Wang Fook Court residential complex in Hong Kong on Wednesday, which has so far left 94 dead, 76 injured and dozens missing, could have spread explosively due to traditional bamboo scaffolding and… … For flammable materials found in these old and densely populated buildings, according to Hong Kong authorities.
“The winds scattered debris and pieces of burning scaffolding towards neighboring buildings, causing the fire to spread to seven of the eight blocks of the complex,” the fire department explained on Wednesday. Despite the widespread use of metal scaffolding elsewhere, including mainland China, Hong Kong continues to use bamboo scaffolding.
The 42-year-old complex, which has been undergoing renovation since July last year, had received complaints about workers smoking in the construction area. Hong Kong police indicated that they did not rule out the existence of a “criminal case” and that they would investigate “possible signs of a crime.”
Furthermore, the scale of the tragedy was exacerbated by the high-density structure of the complex, which opened in 1983. According to the 2021 census, the complex housed 4,643 residents in total, of whom 36.6% were over 65 years of age, a factor that would have made evacuation difficult.
Bamboo, at the heart of the debate
Thanks to its strength and flexibility, bamboo is widely used in all kinds of businesses in Hong Kong. In a few minutes, workers raise the scaffolding by knotting the ends of its trunks into a network of stairs, which ascend to the sky to amazing heights.
Firefighters are constantly throwing water to fight the fires that are still fighting.
Although it may seem very fragile, this material is able to bear the weight of workers and support large amounts of building materials placed on the planks on this dense wooden structure.
In March, the Hong Kong government announced its gradual withdrawal and required the use of metal scaffolding in 50% of public construction work. However, this year there have been at least three fires related to traditional materials.
Hong Kong police have arrested two directors and an outside consultant for the company that carried out the renovation work on charges of manslaughter. It is also checking whether the “tarpaulins, plastics and protective nets” installed comply with regulations, and whether the polyurethane foam used on the facade has accelerated the spread of the fire.
Raffaella EndrezziThe architect and professor at the School of Architecture at the Chinese University of Hong Kong notes that bamboo, as a material, is naturally resistant to flames due to its high moisture content, which slows combustion: “When the right conditions are met, bamboo does not behave like synthetic materials or other non-conforming elements would seem to accelerate a fire.”
“Bamboo always contains a lot of moisture, so it avoids fire and is difficult to burn. “The area would have to be very dry for the fire to catch fire,” explains Endrezzi, who also does not rule out this possibility: “The scaffolding has been installed since July last year, so I don’t know how much it could have dried out, but I think the main reason was the protection net, not the bamboo.”
The cultural icon in question
This tragedy also reopened a profound cultural debate. For many Hong Kongers, bamboo scaffolding is a symbol of identity and a craft passed down through generations.
Chinese artist Song Dongfears that the trauma caused by the fire will mark a turning point and lead to a rethink of a “tradition” that for decades has been considered practical, sustainable and a symbol of Hong Kong: “We have always admired how Hong Kong has maintained its culture of using bamboo scaffolding. But our view of the world changes over time, and this may be one of those moments where we start to think differently about these scaffolds. It is not only about your safety, but also about the trauma that you now associate with it.”