Hong Kong (CNN) — The towering residential blocks in Hong Kong that were consumed by smoke and flames on Wednesday were surrounded by a familiar sight to anyone who has spent time in one of the world’s most densely populated cities: bamboo scaffolding.
Across Hong Kong, it’s almost impossible to walk through the streets without passing buildings wrapped in green safety netting and supported by intricate lattices of bamboo. The traditional construction material is widely recognized for its flexibility, affordability, and sustainability.
Bamboo scaffolding dates back more than 2,000 years to the Han dynasty, and it has played a major role in the construction of some of the city’s most recognizable landmarks — including Norman Foster’s HSBC headquarters.
While the technique remains a cherished Hong Kong tradition, Wednesday’s blaze has raised renewed questions about safety and durability. Still, major disasters involving bamboo scaffolding remain rare, largely due to Hong Kong’s strong reputation for construction quality and strict enforcement of building standards.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the fire in the Tai Po district, but police have arrested 15 people connected to ongoing renovations at the site. At the time of the incident, the building was undergoing refurbishment and fully wrapped in scaffolding and protective mesh.
Officials now believe that substandard safety netting and highly flammable polystyrene boards used to block windows during the renovation significantly accelerated the spread of the fire.
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