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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that construction site netting installed on the buildings failed to meet fire safety regulations.

At least 13 individuals have been arrested for potential negligent homicide, including the senior figures of a contractor.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must act seriously to guarantee all these loopholes are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—advancing with speed both vertically and across the separate towers—was finally put out by the end of the week, approximately two days after it started, and took over 2,000 firefighters to contain.

On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to collect forensic material. The government indicates the investigation could take approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have stated they failed to hear a fire alarm when the incident broke out. The city's fire department discovered that alarms in all eight blocks were operating inadequately.

The city's construction authority has put on hold works on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on suspicion of sedition on the weekend. He was among a collective demanding an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An online petition amassed over 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its page was taken down.

Another two individuals, among them a former district councillor, were also taken in by authorities, as reported by press accounts.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both condemned the alleged detentions.

"The moment has come for the local government to openly examine the causes of the catastrophic blaze...instead of silencing those who pose valid inquiries," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was built in the early 1980s and had offered nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 occupants, based on a population count.

Almost four in ten of its residents are thought to be older than 65 years of age. Some have been occupants of the public housing complex from its inception.

The city's second-worst blaze on file killed 176 people in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when over 600 people perished.