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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, seven of eight apartment buildings at the estate—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting installed on the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 suspects have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, among them the directors of a construction company.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these deficiencies are addressed," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—that propagated rapidly both upwards and across the separate towers—was finally put out by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it began, and took more than 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.

On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the inquiry could last approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have reported they did not hear a smoke detector when the blaze erupted. The city's fire department determined that warning systems in all eight blocks were not working effectively.

The city's construction authority has halted for now construction activities on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on charges related to sedition on the weekend. He was part of a collective demanding an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An online petition gathered in excess of 10,000 endorsements in less than a day before its page was taken down.

A pair of additional persons, including a former district councillor, were also questioned by officers, according to press accounts.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both condemned the reported arrests.

"This is the occasion for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to muzzling those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was completed in 1983 and had offered nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 inhabitants, per a 2021 government census.

Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are thought to be at least 65 years old. Some have been occupants of the public housing complex from its inception.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on file took 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a commercial building. The worst was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 individuals lost their lives.