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The city's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, seven of eight residential blocks at the housing complex—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.

No fewer than 13 people have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, including the executives of a building firm.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to make certain all these deficiencies are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—advancing with speed both vertically and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by Friday morning, approximately two days after it started, and required in excess of 2,000 firefighters to subdue.

That very day, police began entering the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the probe could take approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have reported they failed to hear a smoke detector when the incident started. Local firefighters determined that detection devices in every tower were malfunctioning.

The relevant regulatory body has halted for now construction activities on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, police reportedly detained a young man on suspicion of incitement on the weekend. He was part of a collective demanding an separate review into the tragedy. An online petition amassed over 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.

Two other people, among them a ex-local representative, were also detained by officers, according to news outlets.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the alleged detentions.

"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the catastrophic blaze...instead of suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

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

Almost four in ten of its residents are estimated to be over 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the public housing complex since it was built.

The city's second-worst blaze on file killed 176 people in 1948 and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when over 600 individuals died.