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The city's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

This past Wednesday, the majority of the tower blocks at the estate—which was subject to significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 individuals have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, among them the executives of a construction company.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to make certain all these loopholes are addressed," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—advancing with speed both upwards and from building to building—was only fully doused by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it ignited, and required in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.

That very day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the investigation could take three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have stated they failed to hear a emergency siren when the incident started. Local firefighters found that warning systems in all eight blocks were not working effectively.

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

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on suspicion of subversion on the weekend. He was involved with a gathering calling for an separate review into the fire. An internet-based appeal collected more than 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, including a former district councillor, were also questioned by authorities, as reported by local media reports.

International Reaction

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

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

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was completed in the early 1980s and had supplied nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 occupants, based on a 2021 government census.

Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are thought to be over 65 years old. Several have resided in the public housing complex from its inception.

The city's second-worst blaze on file killed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 people died.