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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 devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, seven of eight tower blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting installed on the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, among them the senior figures of a building firm.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to guarantee all these loopholes are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was only fully doused by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it began, and required in excess of 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the probe could last three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have said they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the blaze started. Hong Kong's fire service determined that alarms in every tower were not working effectively.

Hong Kong's buildings department has put on hold renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on allegations of sedition on Saturday. He was among a collective demanding an autonomous investigation into the blaze. An internet-based appeal amassed more than 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.

Two other people, comprising a former district councillor, were also detained by officers, according to local media reports.

International Reaction

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

"This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the causes of the catastrophic blaze...rather than muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

The residential complex was constructed in the early 1980s and had provided nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 occupants, based on a population count.

Nearly 40% of its residents are thought to be over 65 years old. Some have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate from its inception.

Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on record claimed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was caused by a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in 1918, when more than 600 people perished.