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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that construction site netting installed on the buildings failed to meet fire safety regulations.

No fewer than 13 suspects have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, including the directors of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. Hence we must take decisive action to ensure that all these deficiencies are addressed," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The blaze—that propagated rapidly both upwards and from building to building—was finally put out by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it ignited, and required more than 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

The same day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the investigation could require several weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have stated they did not hear a emergency siren when the incident broke out. Local firefighters discovered that alarms in each building were not working effectively.

The relevant regulatory body has temporarily suspended renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, police reportedly detained a individual on allegations of sedition on the weekend. He was part of a collective demanding an autonomous investigation into the fire. An internet-based appeal amassed more than 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.

Two other people, among them a ex-local representative, were also taken in by officers, as reported by local media reports.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both denounced the alleged detentions.

"This is the occasion for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the devastating fire...instead of silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

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

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are thought to be at least 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since it was built.

The city's second-deadliest fire on in history claimed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was caused by a detonation at street level at a commercial building. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in 1918, when more than 600 attendees lost their lives.