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The city's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings failed to meet flame retardant standards.

A minimum of 13 individuals have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, including the senior figures of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to make certain all these gaps are plucked," stated the leader.

Investigation and Aftermath

The fire—that propagated rapidly both vertically and from building to building—was only fully doused by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it began, and necessitated over 2,000 firefighters to contain.

On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the probe could last approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have stated they did not hear a smoke detector when the fire started. The city's fire department found that detection devices in every tower were operating inadequately.

The relevant regulatory body has put on hold renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, officers took into custody a individual on charges related to incitement on Saturday. He was involved with a gathering calling for an separate review into the blaze. An internet-based appeal gathered in excess of 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its page was taken down.

Another two individuals, including a former district councillor, were also detained by authorities, according to local media reports.

International Reaction

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

"Now is the time for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the devastating fire...as opposed to suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was built in the early 1980s and had provided 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 occupants, according to a 2021 government census.

Nearly 40% of its occupants are believed to be at least 65 years of age. Some have resided in the public housing complex since its construction.

The city's second-most fatal incident on record killed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 attendees died.