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The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an autonomous task force to examine the reasons of a catastrophic blaze that killed at least 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, seven of eight apartment buildings at the estate—which was subject to significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting used around the buildings failed to meet fire safety regulations.

At least 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, among them the directors of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. Hence we must take decisive action to ensure that all these gaps are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—advancing with speed both vertically and across the separate towers—was finally put out by Friday morning, approximately two days after it started, and necessitated over 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the probe could last approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have said they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the fire erupted. Hong Kong's fire service found that alarms in each building were not working effectively.

Hong Kong's buildings department has halted for now renovation projects on 30 private projects.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, police reportedly detained a young man on allegations of subversion on the weekend. He was involved with a collective petitioning for an separate review into the blaze. An digital signature drive gathered in excess of 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its information was removed.

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

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the reported arrests.

"This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the devastating fire...rather than suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was constructed in the early 1980s and had provided nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 occupants, based on a recent official survey.

Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are believed to be over 65 years of age. A number have lived in the government-supported development since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on file claimed 176 people in 1948 and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when more than 600 attendees lost their lives.