🔗 Share this article The city's Leader Orders Investigation into Tragic Inferno that Killed 151 The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an autonomous task force to examine the reasons of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 individuals. Footage shows velocity of flames advancing in Hong Kong residential tower. A Fire of Historic Proportions Last Wednesday, the majority of the tower blocks at the housing complex—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance. No fewer than 13 individuals have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, including the executives of a building firm. "It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. Hence we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these gaps are addressed," he said. The Probe and Its Consequences The fire—that propagated rapidly both vertically and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it started, and necessitated in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to contain. On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the inquiry could take several weeks. The fire is the deadliest the region has witnessed in over 70 decades. Shortcomings Uncovered Several residents have stated they did not hear a emergency siren when the incident started. Hong Kong's fire service found that warning systems in all eight blocks were malfunctioning. The relevant regulatory body has halted for now works on three dozen private developments. Demands for Probe and Detentions Additionally, officers took into custody a 24-year-old man on suspicion of subversion on the weekend. He was part of a gathering demanding an separate review into the blaze. An online petition amassed more than 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its contents were wiped. Another two individuals, comprising a former district councillor, were also detained by officers, according to news outlets. Hong Kong's top official John Lee announced that the inquiry would be headed by a member of the judiciary. Global Response Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the reported arrests. "Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the origins of the tragic incident...instead of muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group. Historical Context and Demographics Wang Fuk Court was completed in 1983 and had offered 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 occupants, based on a recent official survey. Nearly 40% of its residents are believed to be at least 65 years old. Several have been occupants of the government-supported development from its inception. The city's second-worst blaze on record took 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when over 600 attendees perished.