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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, the majority of the tower blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting surrounding the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 people have been taken into custody over alleged culpable homicide, including the directors of a contractor.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these gaps are addressed," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—which spread quickly both upwards and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it started, and necessitated more than 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

The same day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. Authorities say the inquiry could require three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have said they did not hear a smoke detector when the blaze erupted. The city's fire department determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

Hong Kong's buildings department has put on hold construction activities on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, police reportedly detained a individual on suspicion of subversion on Saturday. He was among a collective petitioning for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An online petition collected over 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its page was taken down.

A pair of additional persons, among them a former district councillor, were also questioned by police, per press accounts.

Global Response

Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both denounced the reported arrests.

"The moment has come for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the tragic incident...rather than suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was constructed in the early 1980s and had offered nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 residents, according to a 2021 government census.

Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are estimated to be older than 65 years old. Some have lived in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

The city's second-deadliest fire on record claimed 176 people in 1948 and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when over 600 individuals lost their lives.