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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, the majority of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting used around the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.

A minimum of 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, comprising the senior figures of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in various phases. Hence we must take decisive action to make certain all these gaps are plucked," stated the leader.

Investigation and Aftermath

The blaze—that propagated rapidly both vertically and between the blocks—was finally put out by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it started, and required in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the probe could last several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have reported they did not hear a emergency siren when the blaze started. Hong Kong's fire service determined that alarms in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended construction activities on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, officers took into custody a individual on charges related to subversion on the weekend. He was involved with a group demanding an autonomous investigation into the fire. An internet-based appeal gathered 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 past council member, were also detained by officers, as reported by news outlets.

International Reaction

The rights group and Another watchdog have both criticised the said apprehensions.

"This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and had supplied close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 occupants, based on a population count.

Nearly 40% of its residents are estimated to be over 65 years old. A number have lived in the public housing complex since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on in history killed 176 individuals in 1948 and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The worst was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when over 600 people lost their lives.