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The city's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, seven of eight tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that protective netting surrounding the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.

At least 13 suspects have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, comprising the executives of a building firm.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. Hence we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these loopholes are eliminated," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was finally put out by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it began, and necessitated more than 2,000 firefighters to contain.

That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the probe could require three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have stated they failed to hear a emergency siren when the fire erupted. The city's fire department found that detection devices in each building were not working effectively.

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

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on charges related to incitement on Saturday. He was involved with a collective calling for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal gathered more than 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its page was taken down.

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

International Reaction

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

"Now is the time for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the tragic incident...rather than muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and had supplied 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 occupants, based on a 2021 government census.

Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are estimated to be at least 65 years of age. Some have been occupants of the public housing complex since it was built.

The city's second-deadliest fire on record killed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when in excess of 600 individuals perished.