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

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, most of the residential blocks at the estate—which was subject to significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards.

No fewer than 13 people have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, among them the executives of a contractor.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. That is exactly why we must take decisive action to guarantee all these loopholes are eliminated," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it ignited, and took in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to contain.

The same day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. The government indicates the inquiry could require approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have reported they failed to hear a emergency siren when the incident started. The city's fire department found that detection devices in all eight blocks were operating inadequately.

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

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on charges related to subversion on Saturday. He was involved with a collective petitioning for an independent inquiry into the fire. An internet-based appeal collected more than 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its information was removed.

A pair of additional persons, including a former district councillor, were also questioned by officers, per local media reports.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the alleged detentions.

"The moment has come for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to silencing those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was built in 1983 and had offered close to 2,000 units for some 4,600 occupants, per a recent official survey.

Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are believed to be at least 65 years old. Several have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on in history claimed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 attendees lost their lives.