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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 individuals.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, most of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting installed on the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.

At least 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, among them the directors of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in different stages. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to make certain all these loopholes are addressed," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—which spread quickly both upwards and from building to building—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it began, and necessitated more than 2,000 emergency responders to contain.

The same day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the investigation could take several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have stated they did not hear a smoke detector when the blaze started. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that alarms in each building were not working effectively.

Hong Kong's buildings department has halted for now construction activities on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of incitement on the weekend. He was among a gathering petitioning for an separate review into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal gathered over 10,000 supporters in less than a day before its page was taken down.

Two other people, comprising a past council member, were also taken in by police, as reported by local media reports.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both criticised the reported arrests.

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

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and had offered nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 residents, per a 2021 government census.

Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are estimated to be over 65 years of age. A number have lived in the subsidised housing estate from its inception.

The city's second-most fatal incident on file claimed 176 people in 1948 and was caused by a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when more than 600 attendees lost their lives.