Hong Kong Chief Executive Orders Investigation into Tragic Inferno that Took 151

The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, most of the residential blocks at the estate—which was subject to extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting installed on the buildings failed to meet fire safety regulations.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, including the executives of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to make certain all these loopholes are eliminated," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it started, and required in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the investigation could require several weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have said they failed to hear a emergency siren when the incident erupted. The city's fire department determined that alarms in each building were malfunctioning.

Hong Kong's buildings department has halted for now works on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, officers took into custody a individual on suspicion of subversion on Saturday. He was part of a group demanding an separate review into the blaze. An online petition amassed more than 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its page was taken down.

Two other people, among them a ex-local representative, were also taken in by authorities, per news outlets.

Global Response

The rights group and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the alleged detentions.

"This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the tragic incident...rather than suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.

Background and Resident Profile

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

Almost four in ten of its occupants are believed to be older than 65 years of age. A number have lived in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

The city's second-worst blaze on file took 176 people in the mid-20th century and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 people lost their lives.