Hong Kong Leader Orders Investigation into Tragic Inferno that Killed 151

Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, the majority of the residential blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 people have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, including the executives of a construction company.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to ensure that all these loopholes are eliminated," stated the leader.

Investigation and Aftermath

The blaze—that propagated rapidly both vertically and from building to building—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it ignited, and required more than 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.

On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the investigation could take several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have stated they failed to hear a smoke detector when the fire erupted. Hong Kong's fire service determined that alarms in every tower were malfunctioning.

Hong Kong's buildings department has put on hold construction activities on 30 private projects.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, officers took into custody a individual on charges related to subversion on the weekend. He was involved with a gathering petitioning for an independent inquiry into the fire. An internet-based appeal amassed over 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its information was removed.

Two other people, including a former district councillor, were also detained by officers, as reported by local media reports.

Global Response

Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both condemned the reported arrests.

"Now is the time for the local government to transparently investigate the origins of the devastating fire...as opposed to silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was built in 1983 and had provided nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 occupants, per a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are estimated to be at least 65 years of age. Several have resided in the government-supported development since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on in history killed 176 people in 1948 and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The worst was at a local racetrack in 1918, when in excess of 600 individuals died.