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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that killed at least 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, seven of eight apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting used around the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, including the senior figures of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in different stages. That is exactly why we must act seriously to guarantee all these deficiencies are eliminated," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—advancing with speed both upwards and from building to building—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it started, and required in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.

The same day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the investigation could take several weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have said they did not hear a emergency siren when the incident started. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that alarms in each building were not working effectively.

Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended works on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on allegations of incitement on Saturday. He was part of a group demanding an separate review into the fire. An digital signature drive gathered more than 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its information was removed.

Two other people, comprising a ex-local representative, were also detained by officers, per press accounts.

International Reaction

The rights group and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the alleged detentions.

"This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to muzzling those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was built in the early 1980s and had provided nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 occupants, per a recent official survey.

Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are estimated to be at least 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the public housing complex since its construction.

The city's second-worst blaze on record took 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The worst was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 attendees perished.