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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 tragic inferno that killed at least 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, the majority of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings failed to meet flame retardant standards.

At least 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, comprising the executives of a building firm.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these deficiencies are plucked," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The fire—that propagated rapidly both upwards and across the separate towers—was finally put out by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it ignited, and necessitated over 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the inquiry could take three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have stated they did not hear a fire alarm when the incident erupted. Local firefighters determined that detection devices in every tower were not working effectively.

Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended works on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on charges related to incitement on the weekend. He was among a group calling for an separate review into the blaze. An digital signature drive gathered in excess of 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its page was taken down.

Two other people, among them a former district councillor, were also taken in by officers, as reported by local media reports.

Global Response

The rights group and The monitoring body have both criticised the said apprehensions.

"The moment has come for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the devastating fire...rather than muzzling those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was constructed in the early 1980s and had offered nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 occupants, based on a population count.

Almost four in ten of its occupants are thought to be over 65 years old. Several have resided in the public housing complex from its inception.

The city's second-deadliest fire on in history took 176 people in 1948 and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when over 600 people perished.