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The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that took a minimum of 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, the majority of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that construction site netting installed on the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 suspects have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, among them the directors of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. That is exactly why we must act seriously to make certain all these gaps are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—that propagated rapidly both vertically and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, approximately two days after it began, and took in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.

The same day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the investigation could require approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have stated they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the fire erupted. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that alarms in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

Hong Kong's buildings department has put on hold construction activities on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on allegations of subversion on Saturday. He was among a gathering calling for an independent inquiry into the blaze. An online petition gathered over 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.

A pair of additional persons, comprising a ex-local representative, were also questioned by authorities, according to press accounts.

International Reaction

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

"Now is the time for the city's officials to transparently investigate the causes of the catastrophic blaze...instead of silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was completed in 1983 and had offered nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 residents, according to a population count.

Nearly 40% of its occupants are estimated to be over 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the government-supported development from its inception.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on file killed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when more than 600 people died.