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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to probe the origins of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, the majority of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that protective netting installed on the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 people have been taken into custody over alleged culpable homicide, among them the executives of a building firm.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in various phases. That is exactly why we must take decisive action to make certain all these loopholes are eliminated," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The fire—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it started, and required more than 2,000 emergency responders to contain.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the probe could last several weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have reported they did not hear a fire alarm when the fire erupted. The city's fire department discovered that warning systems in each building were operating inadequately.

The relevant regulatory body has put on hold construction activities on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on charges related to incitement on the weekend. He was part of a group calling for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal collected in excess of 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its page was taken down.

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

Global Response

The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the alleged detentions.

"This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the origins of the catastrophic blaze...rather than suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was completed in 1983 and had provided 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 residents, according to a recent official survey.

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are thought to be over 65 years old. A number have resided in the subsidised housing estate since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on in history killed 176 individuals in 1948 and was the result of a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when over 600 people perished.