The city's Chief Executive Directs Probe into Tragic Blaze that Took 151

Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, the majority of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—went up in flames. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.

A minimum of 13 people have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, including the directors of a contractor.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must act seriously to ensure that all these deficiencies are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—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 over 2,000 firefighters to contain.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the investigation could last several weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have reported they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the blaze started. Hong Kong's fire service determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were not working effectively.

The city's construction authority has halted for now renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on charges related to subversion on the weekend. He was among a gathering petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An digital signature drive collected more than 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its information was removed.

A pair of additional persons, including a former district councillor, were also taken in by authorities, as reported by press accounts.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both criticised the said apprehensions.

"This is the occasion for the city's officials to transparently investigate the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was completed in the early 1980s and had provided 1,984 apartments for some 4,600 inhabitants, based on a recent official survey.

Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are believed to be over 65 years old. Several have lived in the government-supported development since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on file took 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a commercial building. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when over 600 attendees died.