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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

This past Wednesday, most of the tower blocks at the housing complex—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—went up in flames. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings failed to meet flame retardant standards.

At least 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, among them the executives of a building firm.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. Hence we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these deficiencies are addressed," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—which spread quickly both upwards and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it ignited, and required over 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. Authorities say the investigation could require three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have stated they did not hear a fire alarm when the incident broke out. Local firefighters found that alarms in each building were operating inadequately.

The relevant regulatory body has temporarily suspended works on 30 private projects.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on charges related to incitement on the weekend. He was among a group calling for an independent inquiry into the fire. An online petition gathered in excess of 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, among them a ex-local representative, were also questioned by officers, per press accounts.

Global Response

Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both criticised the alleged detentions.

"The moment has come for the city's officials to transparently investigate the origins of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and had supplied close to 2,000 units for some 4,600 inhabitants, according to a population count.

Almost four in ten of its occupants are thought to be over 65 years of age. Some have lived in the government-supported development since it was built.

The city's second-deadliest fire on file took 176 lives in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when in excess of 600 individuals perished.