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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, the majority of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—went up in flames. Investigators have since found that protective netting surrounding the buildings failed to meet fire safety regulations.

A minimum of 13 suspects have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, including the executives of a contractor.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. That is exactly why we must act seriously to ensure that all these deficiencies are plucked," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—which spread quickly both vertically and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it started, and necessitated in excess of 2,000 firefighters to subdue.

The same day, police began entering the buildings to secure proof. Authorities say the probe could last several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have said they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the blaze broke out. The city's fire department discovered that alarms in every tower were not working effectively.

Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on charges related to sedition on Saturday. He was part of a group calling for an separate review into the fire. An digital signature drive collected more than 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its page was taken down.

Two other people, among them a past council member, were also detained by police, as reported by local media reports.

Global Response

The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both denounced the alleged detentions.

"The moment has come for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the origins of the tragic incident...rather than muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was built in 1983 and had offered 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 residents, per a 2021 government census.

Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are estimated to be older than 65 years of age. Some have resided in the government-supported development from its inception.

The city's second-worst blaze on file killed 176 people in 1948 and was the result of a detonation at street level at a commercial building. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when in excess of 600 attendees perished.