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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that claimed the lives of 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, seven of eight residential blocks at the estate—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that protective netting used around the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 suspects have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, among them the executives of a construction company.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to ensure that all these gaps are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—advancing with speed both upwards and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it ignited, and required over 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.

That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the investigation could last approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have stated they failed to hear a fire alarm when the blaze broke out. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that alarms in each building were operating inadequately.

The relevant regulatory body has halted for now construction activities on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of subversion on the weekend. He was among a collective petitioning for an independent inquiry into the blaze. An online petition gathered over 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its page was taken down.

Another two individuals, including a past council member, were also detained by police, per local media reports.

International Reaction

The rights group and The monitoring body have both condemned the said apprehensions.

"The moment has come for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...instead of muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and had offered nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 occupants, based on a 2021 government census.

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are thought to be over 65 years old. Several have resided in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

The city's second-most fatal incident on record claimed 176 lives in 1948 and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when over 600 individuals perished.