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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, the majority of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 people have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, comprising the senior figures of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. Hence we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these gaps are addressed," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The blaze—advancing with speed both vertically and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it started, and required in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the probe could require approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have stated they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the incident erupted. The city's fire department found that alarms in every tower were operating inadequately.

The relevant regulatory body has temporarily suspended construction activities on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, officers took into custody a young man on charges related to subversion on Saturday. He was among a group demanding an separate review into the blaze. An digital signature drive gathered more than 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its information was removed.

Another two individuals, including a past council member, were also taken in by authorities, per press accounts.

Global Response

The rights group and Another watchdog have both denounced the said apprehensions.

"The moment has come for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the causes of the tragic incident...as opposed to muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was built in the early 1980s and had supplied close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 residents, based on a recent official survey.

Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are estimated to be older than 65 years old. Several have been occupants of the government-supported development since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on in history took 176 individuals in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at a sporting venue in 1918, when over 600 individuals perished.