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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, the majority of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, among them the senior figures of a construction company.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. Hence we must act seriously to ensure that all these deficiencies are plucked," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The fire—which spread quickly both upwards and between the blocks—was finally put out by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it started, and necessitated in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.

The same day, police began entering the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the investigation could last several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have stated they did not hear a smoke detector when the incident started. The city's fire department found that alarms in every tower were operating inadequately.

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

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on suspicion of subversion on Saturday. He was part of a group calling for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An online petition gathered in excess of 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, comprising a ex-local representative, were also detained by police, per news outlets.

Global Response

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

"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to muzzling those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and had supplied 1,984 apartments for some 4,600 inhabitants, according to a population count.

Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are believed to be over 65 years of age. Some have been occupants of the public housing complex from its inception.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on file claimed 176 individuals in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when more than 600 attendees perished.