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The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that took a minimum of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, seven of eight apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that construction site netting installed on the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 people have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, among them the senior figures of a construction company.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in different stages. That is exactly why we must take decisive action to guarantee all these gaps are plucked," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—advancing with speed both upwards and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, approximately two days after it ignited, and took over 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.

That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the investigation could require approximately a month.

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have said they failed to hear a fire alarm when the incident started. Hong Kong's fire service determined that alarms in each building were malfunctioning.

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

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, police reportedly detained a individual on charges related to incitement on the weekend. He was involved with a group calling for an independent inquiry into the fire. An online petition amassed in excess of 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its page was taken down.

Two other people, among them a former district councillor, were also detained by authorities, per local media reports.

International Reaction

The rights group and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the said apprehensions.

"The moment has come for the Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...rather than silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was constructed in the early 1980s and had offered nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 residents, per a 2021 government census.

Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are believed to be over 65 years old. Several have resided in the public housing complex since its construction.

The city's second-deadliest fire on record took 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was caused by a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when over 600 individuals died.