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The city's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 individuals.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, most of the tower blocks at the estate—which was subject to major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting surrounding the buildings failed to meet fire safety regulations.

A minimum of 13 suspects have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, including the senior figures of a building firm.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to guarantee all these gaps are plucked," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it started, and necessitated in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.

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

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have said they did not hear a smoke detector when the blaze broke out. Hong Kong's fire service found that warning systems in all eight blocks were not working effectively.

Hong Kong's buildings department has put on hold works on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, officers took into custody a young man on allegations of subversion on the weekend. He was among a gathering petitioning for an independent inquiry into the fire. An digital signature drive collected in excess of 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.

Two other people, including a past council member, were also taken in by authorities, according to news outlets.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both condemned the alleged detentions.

"This is the occasion for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the devastating fire...as opposed to muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.

Background and Resident Profile

The residential complex was completed in the early 1980s and had offered nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 residents, based on a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are thought to be at least 65 years old. Several have lived in the subsidised housing estate since it was built.

The city's second-worst blaze on in history claimed 176 individuals in 1948 and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 attendees lost their lives.