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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 individuals.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, the majority of the tower blocks at the housing complex—which was subject to significant upgrades—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 people have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, including the directors of a contractor.

"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to make certain all these gaps are eliminated," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—that propagated rapidly both upwards and between the blocks—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it began, and took over 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.

That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the probe could last approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have stated they did not hear a fire alarm when the blaze erupted. Hong Kong's fire service found that detection devices in every tower were not working effectively.

The relevant regulatory body has put on hold renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, police reportedly detained a individual on charges related to subversion on Saturday. He was involved with a gathering demanding an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal collected over 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its information was removed.

A pair of additional persons, including a past council member, were also questioned by authorities, as reported by local media reports.

Global Response

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the said apprehensions.

"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...instead of silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was completed in 1983 and had provided nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 occupants, according to a 2021 government census.

Nearly 40% of its residents are thought to be over 65 years old. Several have been occupants of the public housing complex since its construction.

The city's second-worst blaze on in history claimed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when more than 600 individuals lost their lives.