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The city's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that claimed the lives of 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, most of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings failed to meet fire safety regulations.

At least 13 people have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, including the executives of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these deficiencies are addressed," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—which spread quickly both upwards and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it started, and took in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.

The same day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the probe could last three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have said they failed to hear a emergency siren when the fire started. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that alarms in each building were operating inadequately.

The relevant regulatory body has halted for now renovation projects on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on allegations of incitement on Saturday. He was involved with a group demanding an autonomous investigation into the fire. An online petition amassed over 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its information was removed.

A pair of additional persons, comprising a ex-local representative, were also detained by authorities, per news outlets.

International Reaction

The rights group and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the alleged detentions.

"Now is the time for the local government to openly examine the origins of the devastating fire...instead of muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was built in the early 1980s and had supplied 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 occupants, according to a recent official survey.

Almost four in ten of its residents are estimated to be at least 65 years old. Some have been occupants of the public housing complex since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on in history took 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was the result of a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at a sporting venue in 1918, when in excess of 600 individuals perished.