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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, seven of eight apartment buildings at the housing complex—which was subject to major refurbishment—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting surrounding the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 people have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, including the senior figures of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. Hence we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these deficiencies are plucked," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—which spread quickly both upwards and between the blocks—was only fully doused by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it began, and required over 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.

The same day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the investigation could take several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have stated they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the fire started. Hong Kong's fire service found that warning systems in every tower were not working effectively.

The city's construction authority has halted for now renovation projects on 30 private projects.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on charges related to subversion on Saturday. He was involved with a gathering petitioning for an independent inquiry into the blaze. An internet-based appeal amassed more than 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its contents were wiped.

Two other people, comprising a former district councillor, were also questioned by officers, as reported by local media reports.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both denounced the reported arrests.

"The moment has come for the local government to openly examine the reasons of the devastating fire...rather than suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was constructed in 1983 and had supplied close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, based on a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are believed to be older than 65 years old. Some have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on record claimed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when more than 600 individuals lost their lives.