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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

This past Wednesday, most of the residential blocks at the estate—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, among them the senior figures of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these deficiencies are plucked," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—that propagated rapidly both vertically and from building to building—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it started, and required more than 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the probe could require approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have said they failed to hear a emergency siren when the blaze broke out. Local firefighters found that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

The relevant regulatory body has put on hold construction activities on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, officers took into custody a individual on charges related to sedition on Saturday. He was involved with a gathering demanding an separate review into the fire. An digital signature drive collected more than 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its page was taken down.

Another two individuals, including a former district councillor, were also taken in by police, as reported by local media reports.

Global Response

The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both criticised the reported arrests.

"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the causes of the tragic incident...instead of silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was completed in the early 1980s and had provided nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, per a recent official survey.

Almost four in ten of its occupants are thought to be at least 65 years of age. Several have lived in the subsidised housing estate from its inception.

The city's second-worst blaze on in history killed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The most deadly was at a sporting venue in 1918, when more than 600 attendees died.