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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, most of the apartment buildings at the estate—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 suspects have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, comprising the directors of a contractor.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to make certain all these loopholes are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and across the separate towers—was finally put out by Friday morning, approximately two days after it ignited, and required more than 2,000 firefighters to subdue.

That very day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the inquiry could require several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have reported they did not hear a fire alarm when the blaze broke out. The city's fire department determined that detection devices in every tower were operating inadequately.

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

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on suspicion of subversion on Saturday. He was among a gathering petitioning for an separate review into the blaze. An digital signature drive gathered over 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its page was taken down.

A pair of additional persons, among them a former district councillor, were also taken in by officers, per news outlets.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both criticised the said apprehensions.

"Now is the time for the city's officials to openly examine the reasons of the tragic incident...rather than muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

The residential complex was constructed in 1983 and had supplied nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 residents, based on a 2021 government census.

Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are believed to be older than 65 years old. Several have been occupants of the public housing complex since its construction.

The city's second-deadliest fire on in history claimed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at a sporting venue in 1918, when over 600 individuals lost their lives.