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The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, most of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting surrounding the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been arrested for potential negligent homicide, comprising the senior figures of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. Hence we must act seriously to ensure that all these gaps are plucked," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—advancing with speed both upwards and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the end of the week, approximately two days after it began, and necessitated more than 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the inquiry could take several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have said they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the incident broke out. Hong Kong's fire service found that detection devices in every tower were operating inadequately.

The city's construction authority has put on hold works on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, police reportedly detained a young man on suspicion of sedition on the weekend. He was among a group petitioning for an separate review into the fire. An internet-based appeal gathered more than 10,000 endorsements in less than a day before its information was removed.

Another two individuals, comprising a past council member, were also detained by police, as reported by press accounts.

Global Response

Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both condemned the alleged detentions.

"The moment has come for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the reasons of the tragic incident...as opposed to silencing those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was constructed in 1983 and had supplied 1,984 apartments for some 4,600 inhabitants, according to a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are believed to be over 65 years of age. A number have lived in the government-supported development since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on file took 176 lives in 1948 and was the result of a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when more than 600 individuals lost their lives.