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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, most of the residential blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting used around the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 suspects have been taken into custody over alleged culpable homicide, among them the executives of a building firm.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. Hence we must take decisive action to make certain all these deficiencies are eliminated," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—advancing with speed both vertically and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it started, and necessitated over 2,000 firefighters to contain.

On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the inquiry could take approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have stated they failed to hear a emergency siren when the blaze started. The city's fire department discovered that alarms in every tower were operating inadequately.

The city's construction authority has put on hold construction activities on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on charges related to sedition on the weekend. He was involved with a group calling for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal gathered over 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its information was removed.

Another two individuals, comprising a ex-local representative, were also questioned by officers, according to local media reports.

Global Response

The rights group and The monitoring body have both condemned the said apprehensions.

"The moment has come for the local government to transparently investigate the origins of the devastating fire...instead of muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was completed in 1983 and had provided close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 residents, per a 2021 government census.

Nearly 40% of its occupants are thought to be at least 65 years old. Several have resided in the government-supported development since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on file killed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 individuals perished.