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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that protective netting surrounding the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 suspects have been arrested for potential negligent homicide, including the senior figures of a contractor.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. Hence we must take decisive action to guarantee all these gaps are eliminated," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—which spread quickly both vertically and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, approximately two days after it began, and necessitated more than 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

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

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have stated they failed to hear a emergency siren when the blaze erupted. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that detection devices in all eight blocks were not working effectively.

The relevant regulatory body has temporarily suspended works on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on charges related to incitement on Saturday. He was among a group demanding an separate review into the blaze. An internet-based appeal collected over 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.

Two other people, comprising a past council member, were also questioned by officers, per news outlets.

Global Response

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

"This is the occasion for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the catastrophic blaze...rather than muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.

Background and Resident Profile

The residential complex was constructed in 1983 and had provided close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 residents, per a 2021 government census.

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

The city's second-worst blaze on file claimed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was the result of a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in 1918, when in excess of 600 attendees perished.