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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, most of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting surrounding the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 individuals have been taken into custody over alleged culpable homicide, among them the senior figures of a contractor.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. We have uncovered shortcomings in different stages. Hence we must take decisive action to make certain all these loopholes are plucked," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The fire—advancing with speed both upwards and across the separate towers—was finally put out by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it started, and required in excess of 2,000 firefighters to subdue.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the probe could take several weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have said they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the fire broke out. Local firefighters determined that warning systems in each building were malfunctioning.

The relevant regulatory body has halted for now renovation projects on 30 private projects.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, police reportedly detained a young man on suspicion of subversion on Saturday. He was among a group demanding an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An online petition amassed over 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its page was taken down.

Two other people, comprising a past council member, were also questioned by officers, according to press accounts.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both condemned the reported arrests.

"The moment has come for the local government to transparently investigate the origins of the tragic incident...rather than muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.

Background and Resident Profile

The residential complex was completed in 1983 and had provided nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 residents, based on a 2021 government census.

Nearly 40% of its occupants are estimated to be at least 65 years of age. A number have resided in the government-supported development since its construction.

The city's second-most fatal incident on file killed 176 people in 1948 and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at a sporting venue in 1918, when more than 600 people perished.