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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, the majority of the residential blocks at the estate—which was subject to significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 people have been arrested for potential negligent homicide, comprising the senior figures of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. Hence we must take decisive action to make certain all these gaps are eliminated," stated the leader.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—that propagated rapidly both vertically and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it ignited, and required more than 2,000 fire service personnel to contain.

The same day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the inquiry could last three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have stated they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the blaze erupted. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that detection devices in all eight blocks were operating inadequately.

The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, police reportedly detained a young man on charges related to subversion on Saturday. He was involved with a collective calling for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An online petition amassed in excess of 10,000 supporters in less than a day before its information was removed.

Another two individuals, comprising a past council member, were also taken in by police, per news outlets.

Global Response

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

"This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the causes of the tragic incident...as opposed to suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was constructed in the early 1980s and had provided 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 residents, per a population count.

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

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on file claimed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was caused by a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 attendees perished.