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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, the majority of the apartment buildings at the estate—which was subject to major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings failed to meet flame retardant standards.

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

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these deficiencies are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—that propagated rapidly both vertically and across the separate towers—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it ignited, and necessitated more than 2,000 firefighters to contain.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the inquiry could last approximately a month.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have said they failed to hear a smoke detector when the fire erupted. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that alarms in every tower were operating inadequately.

The city's construction authority has halted for now works on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on allegations of incitement on Saturday. He was part of a group calling for an autonomous investigation into the blaze. An digital signature drive gathered over 10,000 supporters in less than a day before its information was removed.

Another two individuals, including a former district councillor, were also taken in by police, according to news outlets.

Global Response

The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the reported arrests.

"This is the occasion for the city's officials to transparently investigate the reasons of the devastating fire...rather than suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was completed in the early 1980s and had offered close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 occupants, per a recent official survey.

Nearly 40% of its occupants are believed to be at least 65 years of age. A number have lived in the public housing complex since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on file killed 176 lives in 1948 and was caused by a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when over 600 attendees lost their lives.