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The city's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to extensive renovations—went up in flames. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings failed to meet fire safety regulations.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been arrested for potential negligent homicide, among them the executives of a construction company.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to ensure that all these loopholes are eliminated," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—which spread quickly both upwards and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it began, and necessitated more than 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the investigation could last approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have said they failed to hear a fire alarm when the blaze started. Local firefighters found that warning systems in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

The relevant regulatory body has temporarily suspended construction activities on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on suspicion of sedition on Saturday. He was involved with a group demanding an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal gathered more than 10,000 endorsements in less than a day before its information was removed.

Two other people, comprising a ex-local representative, were also questioned by police, as reported by news outlets.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both condemned the reported arrests.

"This is the occasion for the city's officials to openly examine the reasons of the devastating fire...instead of silencing those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

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

Nearly 40% of its residents are thought to be over 65 years of age. A number have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since it was built.

The city's second-deadliest fire on record took 176 lives in 1948 and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in 1918, when more than 600 individuals died.