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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, most of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting surrounding the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, comprising the executives of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in different stages. Hence we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these gaps are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee.

Investigation and Aftermath

The blaze—which spread quickly both vertically and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it started, and necessitated in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to contain.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the investigation could require three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have reported they failed to hear a fire alarm when the fire started. Hong Kong's fire service found that detection devices in each building were not working effectively.

The city's construction authority has halted for now renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on suspicion of sedition on the weekend. He was among a gathering calling for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An online petition amassed over 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.

Another two individuals, among them a ex-local representative, were also detained by officers, as reported by news outlets.

Global Response

The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both criticised the said apprehensions.

"This is the occasion for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the devastating fire...instead of silencing those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and had offered 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, per a 2021 government census.

Nearly 40% of its residents are believed to be over 65 years of age. Several have lived in the government-supported development from its inception.

The city's second-most fatal incident on file claimed 176 people in 1948 and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when over 600 individuals died.