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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that took a minimum of 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.

A minimum of 13 suspects have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, comprising the senior figures of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these loopholes are addressed," stated the leader.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—that propagated rapidly both vertically and across the separate towers—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it began, and necessitated in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to contain.

The same day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to collect forensic material. The government indicates the inquiry could require three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have said they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the blaze broke out. Local firefighters discovered that warning systems in every tower were not working effectively.

The relevant regulatory body has put on hold renovation projects on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, officers took into custody a 24-year-old man on suspicion of subversion on Saturday. He was part of a gathering calling for an separate review into the fire. An internet-based appeal amassed more than 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, among them a ex-local representative, were also questioned by police, as reported by local media reports.

Global Response

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the alleged detentions.

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

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was constructed in 1983 and had provided close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 occupants, according to a recent official survey.

Almost four in ten of its occupants are estimated to be older than 65 years old. A number have resided in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

The city's second-most fatal incident on in history took 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when more than 600 attendees lost their lives.