🔗 Share this article Hong Kong Chief Executive Orders Probe into Deadly Inferno that Killed 151 Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a catastrophic blaze that took a minimum of 151 residents. Images shows speed of fire spread in Hong Kong residential tower. A Fire of Historic Proportions Last Wednesday, the majority of the residential 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 used around the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards. A minimum of 13 individuals have been taken into custody over alleged culpable homicide, including the senior figures of a contractor. "Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in different stages. Hence we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these loopholes are eliminated," stated the leader. The Probe and Its Consequences The blaze—that propagated rapidly both upwards and across the separate towers—was finally put out by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it began, and necessitated over 2,000 firefighters to subdue. On that day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the investigation could require approximately a month. The fire is the deadliest the region has experienced in over 70 years. Systemic Failures Identified A number of occupants have stated they did not hear a fire alarm when the blaze broke out. Hong Kong's fire service determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were operating inadequately. The city's construction authority has put on hold renovation projects on three dozen private developments. Calls for Inquiry and Arrests Separately, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on suspicion of sedition on Saturday. He was involved with a gathering petitioning for an separate review into the tragedy. An digital signature drive gathered in excess of 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its page was taken down. Another two individuals, comprising a ex-local representative, were also detained by officers, as reported by local media reports. Chief executive John Lee stated that the inquiry would be headed by a judge. International Reaction The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both denounced the alleged detentions. "Now is the time for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to muzzling those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group. Background and Resident Profile The housing estate was built in 1983 and had offered 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, according to a population count. Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are thought to be at least 65 years of age. Several have lived in the public housing complex since it was built. The city's second-worst blaze on record killed 176 people in 1948 and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in 1918, when more than 600 people perished.