The city's Chief Executive Orders Probe into Fatal Blaze that Took 151

Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

This past Wednesday, the majority of the tower blocks at the estate—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—went up in flames. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting surrounding the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 people have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, including the directors of a construction company.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these loopholes are plucked," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—that propagated rapidly both upwards and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it began, and required in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.

On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the inquiry could last several weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have reported they failed to hear a emergency siren when the fire started. Hong Kong's fire service found that detection devices in every tower were operating inadequately.

The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended renovation projects on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, officers took into custody a young man on suspicion of incitement on Saturday. He was involved with a collective petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An online petition gathered in excess of 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its contents were wiped.

A pair of additional persons, comprising a ex-local representative, were also taken in by police, as reported by news outlets.

Global Response

The rights group and The monitoring body have both denounced the reported arrests.

"The moment has come for the local government to openly examine the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...rather than silencing 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 recent official survey.

Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are estimated to be at least 65 years old. Some have been occupants of the public housing complex since it was built.

The city's second-deadliest fire on record killed 176 people in 1948 and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when more than 600 individuals lost their lives.