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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that took a minimum of 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting installed on the buildings failed to meet flame retardant standards.

At least 13 people have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, among them the executives of a construction company.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must act seriously to guarantee all these gaps are plucked," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—advancing with speed both upwards and across the separate towers—was finally put out by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it began, and necessitated over 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.

On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the investigation could require several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have reported they did not hear a emergency siren when the incident started. The city's fire department discovered that alarms in each building were operating inadequately.

The relevant regulatory body has temporarily suspended renovation projects on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on allegations of incitement on Saturday. He was involved with a gathering petitioning for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal gathered in excess of 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, including a former district councillor, were also questioned by police, as reported by press accounts.

Global Response

Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both condemned the reported arrests.

"Now is the time for the local government to transparently investigate the origins of the devastating fire...rather than muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was built in the early 1980s and had offered close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 residents, according to a 2021 government census.

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are estimated to be at least 65 years of age. Several have lived in the government-supported development from its inception.

The city's second-worst blaze on record killed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The worst was at a local racetrack in 1918, when in excess of 600 people lost their lives.