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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that killed at least 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, most of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to major refurbishment—went up in flames. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 people have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, among them the executives of a building firm.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. Hence we must act seriously to make certain all these deficiencies are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee.

Investigation and Aftermath

The fire—advancing with speed both upwards and across the separate towers—was finally put out by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it started, and required in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. Authorities say the investigation could last several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have said they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the fire erupted. Local firefighters determined that alarms in every tower were malfunctioning.

The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended renovation projects on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on allegations of sedition on the weekend. He was part of a collective petitioning for an separate review into the fire. An online petition amassed more than 10,000 supporters in less than a day before its information was removed.

A pair of additional persons, among them a former district councillor, were also questioned by officers, according to news outlets.

Global Response

The rights group and Another watchdog have both criticised the said apprehensions.

"Now is the time for the local government to transparently investigate the origins of the tragic incident...as opposed to suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was completed in 1983 and had provided 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 inhabitants, per a recent official survey.

Almost four in ten of its occupants are thought to be over 65 years of age. Some have resided in the government-supported development from its inception.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on in history killed 176 lives in 1948 and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when over 600 people lost their lives.