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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, the majority of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—went up in flames. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting surrounding the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 individuals have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, including the directors of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to make certain all these deficiencies are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—that propagated rapidly both upwards and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it started, and took over 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.

On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the investigation could last three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have said they did not hear a emergency siren when the blaze broke out. The city's fire department found that warning systems in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

The city's construction authority has put on hold works on 30 private projects.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, officers took into custody a 24-year-old man on allegations of incitement on the weekend. He was part of a group petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal amassed more than 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its page was taken down.

Two other people, comprising a past council member, were also taken in by officers, per local media reports.

Global Response

The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both denounced the alleged detentions.

"The moment has come for the city's officials to transparently investigate the reasons of the tragic incident...rather than muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was constructed in 1983 and had supplied close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 occupants, based on a 2021 government census.

Almost four in ten of its occupants are estimated to be over 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since it was built.

The city's second-worst blaze on record killed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a sporting venue in 1918, when in excess of 600 people lost their lives.