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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, the majority of the tower blocks at the estate—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable 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 various phases. That is exactly why we must take decisive action to guarantee all these loopholes are plucked," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—that propagated rapidly both vertically and from building to building—was finally put out by the end of the week, approximately two days after it started, and necessitated more than 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the inquiry could last three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have said they did not hear a fire alarm when the blaze broke out. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that warning systems in each building were malfunctioning.

Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended construction activities on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, police reportedly detained a individual on suspicion of subversion on Saturday. He was among a gathering demanding an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal amassed in excess of 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its page was taken down.

A pair of additional persons, among them a former district councillor, were also questioned by officers, as reported by press accounts.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both denounced the reported arrests.

"The moment has come for the local government to openly examine the causes of the devastating fire...rather than suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and had provided nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, per a recent official survey.

Almost four in ten of its occupants are thought to be at least 65 years of age. Several have lived in the subsidised housing estate from its inception.

The city's second-deadliest fire on file took 176 lives in 1948 and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in 1918, when more than 600 individuals died.