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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

This past Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that construction site netting used around the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards.

At least 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, including the executives of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. We have uncovered shortcomings in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these deficiencies are addressed," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—advancing with speed both vertically and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it began, and necessitated more than 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. Authorities say the investigation could last three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have reported they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the blaze erupted. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that detection devices in every tower were malfunctioning.

The relevant regulatory body has temporarily suspended construction activities on 30 private projects.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, police reportedly detained a individual on suspicion of subversion on the weekend. He was among a gathering calling for an separate review into the blaze. An digital signature drive amassed over 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its information was removed.

Another two individuals, comprising a past council member, were also questioned by officers, per press accounts.

Global Response

The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the reported arrests.

"This is the occasion for the city's officials to openly examine the reasons of the tragic incident...instead of suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and had provided nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 residents, according to a population count.

Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are thought to be at least 65 years of age. Some have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate from its inception.

Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on record took 176 people in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The worst was at a sporting venue in 1918, when in excess of 600 individuals lost their lives.