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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, most of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—which was subject to major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting used around the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, including the senior figures of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these deficiencies are plucked," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—advancing with speed both vertically and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it began, and required more than 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the inquiry could take three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have said they did not hear a smoke detector when the blaze started. Hong Kong's fire service found that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

The city's construction authority has put on hold renovation projects on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, police reportedly detained a young man on suspicion of subversion on the weekend. He was among a collective calling for an separate review into the tragedy. An online petition amassed more than 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its information was removed.

Two other people, including a past council member, were also questioned by officers, per press accounts.

International Reaction

The rights group and Human Rights Watch have both condemned the reported arrests.

"Now is the time for the city's officials to transparently investigate the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was constructed in 1983 and had provided close to 2,000 units for some 4,600 inhabitants, according to a population count.

Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are thought to be over 65 years old. A number have lived in the public housing complex since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on file killed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was caused by a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when over 600 people lost their lives.