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The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, most of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—went up in flames. Investigators have since found that protective netting installed on the buildings failed to meet flame retardant standards.

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

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. Hence we must act seriously to guarantee all these deficiencies are eliminated," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it began, and necessitated in excess of 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. Authorities say the investigation could last three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have said they failed to hear a smoke detector when the fire broke out. Hong Kong's fire service determined that alarms in all eight blocks were not working effectively.

The city's construction authority has put on hold works on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on allegations of incitement on Saturday. He was among a gathering petitioning for an separate review into the fire. An internet-based appeal amassed over 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its information was removed.

Another two individuals, including a past council member, were also questioned by police, according to press accounts.

Global Response

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

"Now is the time for the local government to openly examine the reasons of the tragic incident...instead of silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was constructed in 1983 and had supplied close to 2,000 units for some 4,600 residents, based on a 2021 government census.

Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are believed to be older than 65 years of age. Some have resided in the government-supported development since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on in history killed 176 individuals in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a sporting venue in 1918, when more than 600 individuals died.