The news of the miracle rescue from the gutted Hong Kong building after a devastating fire, which tragically claimed 65 lives, left me with a profound sense of both awe and sorrow. To hear of a survivor pulled from the debris after 24 hours is a testament to human resilience and the relentless efforts of rescue teams, yet the sheer scale of the loss is heartbreaking [https://www.facebook.com/pakobserver/posts/at-least-44-people-have-been-killed-after-a-massive-fire-swept-through-several-h/1465868275548276/]. This incident, along with the subsequent police raid on a construction firm's office in San Po Kong [https://www.facebook.com/SituationReportPH/posts/hong-kong-police-raided-a-construction-firms-office-in-san-po-kong-on-thursday-a/122160679460831834/], forces us to confront the vulnerabilities inherent in our dense urban environments.
This recent tragedy in Hong Kong, with its devastating toll and the unsettling details of the investigation, brings to mind a conversation I initiated years ago. In my 2017 blog, 'Why this narrow focus?', I emphasized the critical need to expand our technological horizons beyond just software and internet solutions. I advocated for a TEAM (Technology Evaluation and Acquisition Ministry) to actively seek out and implement diverse technologies to address pressing societal challenges. While that particular discussion focused on urban traffic and pollution, the core principle holds true for urban safety and resilience against disasters like fires.
The core idea I wanted to convey then, and which feels even more validated now, was that we must proactively identify and integrate every possible technological and structural safeguard into our urban fabric. I had warned against confining our efforts to a narrow band of technologies and proposed a solution that would systematically evaluate and acquire the best global innovations. This tragedy underscores how vital that proactive stance is – to predict and prepare, rather than react to unfolding calamities. It's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is, and I feel a renewed urgency to revisit those ideas, as they clearly hold immense value in preventing such future losses. We must ensure that our urban development is not just about growth, but about fostering environments that are inherently safe and resilient for all.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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