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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, seven of eight apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting installed on the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, including the senior figures of a construction company.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. Hence we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these gaps are eliminated," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it ignited, and required more than 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the inquiry could require several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have said they failed to hear a fire alarm when the fire broke out. Hong Kong's fire service found that warning systems in every tower were operating inadequately.

Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended works on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, police reportedly detained a individual on allegations of incitement on the weekend. He was among a gathering petitioning for an separate review into the tragedy. An digital signature drive amassed in excess of 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.

Two other people, comprising a former district councillor, were also questioned by police, according to local media reports.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both criticised the alleged detentions.

"Now is the time for the city's officials to openly examine the causes of the devastating fire...as opposed to muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was built in the early 1980s and had provided close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 inhabitants, per a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are thought to be older than 65 years of age. Some have lived in the government-supported development since its construction.

The city's second-deadliest fire on in history took 176 lives 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 more than 600 attendees died.