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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that killed at least 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting installed on the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, comprising the directors of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to make certain all these gaps are eliminated," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The blaze—that propagated rapidly both upwards and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it ignited, and required over 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.

On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the investigation could take approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have reported they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the blaze erupted. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that alarms in every tower were not working effectively.

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

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, officers took into custody a individual on charges related to sedition on the weekend. He was among a group demanding an autonomous investigation into the blaze. An online petition amassed in excess of 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its information was removed.

A pair of additional persons, among them a ex-local representative, were also detained by officers, according to press accounts.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both criticised the reported arrests.

"This is the occasion for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the tragic incident...instead of muzzling those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was built in the early 1980s and had offered 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 residents, according to a 2021 government census.

Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are estimated to be at least 65 years of age. A number have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

The city's second-worst blaze on file killed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when over 600 people lost their lives.