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The city's chief executive, 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

This past Wednesday, most of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 people have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, comprising the executives of a contractor.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in different stages. Hence we must take decisive action to make certain all these deficiencies are eliminated," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—that propagated rapidly both upwards and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, approximately two days after it ignited, and took in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.

On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the investigation could require several weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have stated they failed to hear a emergency siren when the fire started. Hong Kong's fire service found that alarms in every tower were not working effectively.

Hong Kong's buildings department has halted for now renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on suspicion of incitement on the weekend. He was involved with a group calling for an independent inquiry into the blaze. An online petition collected over 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.

A pair of additional persons, including a past council member, were also questioned by officers, per news outlets.

International Reaction

The rights group and The monitoring body have both criticised the said apprehensions.

"The moment has come for the local government to openly examine the causes of the devastating fire...as opposed to suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was completed in 1983 and had supplied close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 residents, according to a recent official survey.

Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are estimated to be over 65 years of age. Some have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

The city's second-deadliest fire on in history claimed 176 people in 1948 and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when over 600 attendees died.