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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an autonomous task force to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, most of the tower blocks at the estate—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.

At least 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, including the senior figures of a contractor.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. Hence we must take decisive action to ensure that all these loopholes are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—advancing with speed both vertically and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it began, and necessitated over 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.

On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the probe could last approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have reported they did not hear a emergency siren when the incident started. The city's fire department found that detection devices in each building were not working effectively.

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

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on suspicion of sedition on the weekend. He was part of a group petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An online petition collected more than 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its contents were wiped.

A pair of additional persons, comprising a past council member, were also questioned by police, per local media reports.

Global Response

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

"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the origins of the catastrophic blaze...instead of muzzling those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was built in 1983 and had provided close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, according to a population count.

Almost four in ten of its occupants are estimated to be over 65 years old. Several have resided in the government-supported development since it was built.

The city's second-worst blaze on file claimed 176 individuals in 1948 and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The worst was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when over 600 attendees perished.