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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, most of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, among them the senior figures of a building firm.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must act seriously to make certain all these loopholes are plucked," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—advancing with speed both upwards and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it began, and required over 2,000 firefighters to contain.

On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the probe could require approximately a month.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have said they failed to hear a smoke detector when the incident broke out. Local firefighters discovered that warning systems in each building were operating inadequately.

Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended renovation projects on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, officers took into custody a individual on allegations of sedition on the weekend. He was among a group calling for an independent inquiry into the fire. An digital signature drive gathered over 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, including a former district councillor, were also taken in by officers, as reported by news outlets.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the reported arrests.

"The moment has come for the local government to openly examine the causes of the tragic incident...rather than muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was constructed in 1983 and had supplied 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 inhabitants, according to a recent official survey.

Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are estimated to be at least 65 years old. Some have been occupants of the public housing complex from its inception.

The city's second-most fatal incident on file killed 176 people in 1948 and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in 1918, when more than 600 people perished.