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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, the majority of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.

At least 13 people have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, comprising the directors of a building firm.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must act seriously to ensure that all these deficiencies are plucked," stated the leader.

Investigation and Aftermath

The blaze—advancing with speed both upwards and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it began, and necessitated over 2,000 firefighters to subdue.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the inquiry could last approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have reported they failed to hear a fire alarm when the incident broke out. Local firefighters determined that warning systems in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

Hong Kong's buildings department has put on hold works on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on allegations of sedition on the weekend. He was part of a gathering petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An internet-based appeal gathered in excess of 10,000 supporters in less than a day before its information was removed.

A pair of additional persons, comprising a ex-local representative, were also questioned by authorities, per news outlets.

Global Response

The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both condemned the alleged detentions.

"The moment has come for the Hong Kong authorities to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the devastating fire...instead of suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was built in the early 1980s and had supplied 1,984 apartments for some 4,600 occupants, according to a 2021 government census.

Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are believed to be at least 65 years of age. Several have resided in the government-supported development from its inception.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on record claimed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at a local racetrack in 1918, when over 600 individuals perished.