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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, the majority of the tower blocks at the estate—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting surrounding the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 people have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, among them the senior figures of a building firm.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to guarantee all these deficiencies are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee.

Investigation and Aftermath

The fire—which spread quickly both upwards and from building to building—was only fully doused by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it ignited, and necessitated more than 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the probe could last approximately a month.

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have stated they failed to hear a fire alarm when the incident started. Hong Kong's fire service found that alarms in every tower were not working effectively.

The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended renovation projects on 30 private projects.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, officers took into custody a young man on suspicion of sedition on the weekend. He was part of a group petitioning for an independent inquiry into the fire. An internet-based appeal gathered over 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.

A pair of additional persons, including a former district councillor, were also taken in by authorities, according to press accounts.

International Reaction

The rights group and The monitoring body have both denounced the alleged detentions.

"The moment has come for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the tragic incident...rather than muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was completed in 1983 and had supplied 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 occupants, per a 2021 government census.

Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are estimated to be at least 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the government-supported development since its construction.

The city's second-worst blaze on record took 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was triggered by 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 lost their lives.