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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 suspects have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, including the senior figures of a building firm.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must act seriously to make certain all these gaps are plucked," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it ignited, and required more than 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.

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

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have reported they failed to hear a fire alarm when the incident started. Local firefighters found that alarms in every tower were not working effectively.

The relevant regulatory body has put on hold construction activities on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, officers took into custody a 24-year-old man on allegations of incitement on Saturday. He was involved with a gathering calling for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An online petition collected more than 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its contents were wiped.

Two other people, comprising a ex-local representative, were also questioned by police, according to press accounts.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both condemned the alleged detentions.

"Now is the time for the city's officials to transparently investigate the reasons of the devastating fire...as opposed to silencing those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was built in the early 1980s and had offered 1,984 apartments for some 4,600 occupants, based on a 2021 government census.

Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are believed to be at least 65 years old. A number have resided in the public housing complex since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on record killed 176 lives in 1948 and was caused by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 attendees perished.