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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that took a minimum of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, the majority of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to extensive renovations—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.

At least 13 suspects have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, comprising the directors of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. We have uncovered shortcomings in different stages. That is exactly why we must act seriously to make certain all these gaps are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—advancing with speed both vertically and from building to building—was only fully doused by Friday morning, approximately two days after it started, and required more than 2,000 emergency responders to contain.

That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the probe could take three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have said they failed to hear a fire alarm when the fire broke out. Hong Kong's fire service found that detection devices in every tower were malfunctioning.

The relevant regulatory body has put on hold construction activities on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, officers took into custody a 24-year-old man on charges related to subversion on Saturday. He was part of a group petitioning for an separate review into the fire. An internet-based appeal amassed over 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours 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 condemned the reported arrests.

"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the causes 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 supplied 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 occupants, according to a population count.

Almost four in ten of its residents are thought to be over 65 years of age. Several have resided in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

The city's second-most fatal incident on in history claimed 176 individuals in 1948 and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at a sporting venue in 1918, when more than 600 attendees died.