A: Hey there! Did you hear about what happened last week?
B: No, what's up?

A: Well, remember that big fire in Hong Kong? It was a real disaster.
B: Oh yeah, I think I recall something like that...

A: Right! It happened a week ago already. The blaze claimed the lives of 159 people and left about 30 more missing.
B: Wow, that's terrible! How bad was the damage?

A: Well, it's the worst since Hong Kong returned to China in 1997. People have been gathering near the site to remember the victims since early Wednesday.
B: That must be a very sad moment for them... I can only imagine.

A: Seven out of eight high-rise buildings in the complex caught fire, but people who lived in the one building that didn't were allowed to go back during the morning hours to grab their stuff.
B: That's a bit better, at least they could retrieve something. So, what caused this disaster?

A: Local authorities think it was a mix of things – the protective netting used for renovations didn't meet fireproof standards and there was also some highly flammable styrene foam being used for the work.
B: Yikes! I can see how that could have been disastrous...

A: Exactly! And now, there are growing calls for the government to be held accountable for safety oversights and possible illegalities related to the renovation project.
B: That's definitely concerning, but at least they're setting up an independent panel to investigate it all.

A: Yes! The panel will look into the cause of the fire, verify safety standards, and how the project was supervised. Over 2,000 residents who were displaced are now living in hotels and other facilities.
B: I hope they can find a solution soon for those people... It's tough to be without a home during the holidays.

A: Definitely! Let's keep them in our thoughts.