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The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that took a minimum of 151 individuals.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, most of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that protective netting used around the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, among them the directors of a building firm.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to guarantee all these deficiencies are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—which spread quickly both vertically and between the blocks—was finally put out by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it began, and took in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the probe could require three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have said they failed to hear a fire alarm when the blaze broke out. The city's fire department determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were not working effectively.

The city's construction authority has halted for now renovation projects on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, police reportedly detained a young man on allegations of sedition on Saturday. He was among a collective petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal amassed in excess of 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its contents were wiped.

A pair of additional persons, among them a past council member, were also taken in by police, as reported by news outlets.

Global Response

The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both denounced the reported arrests.

"Now is the time for the local government to openly examine the reasons of the devastating fire...as opposed to muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was built in 1983 and had offered nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 residents, per a 2021 government census.

Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are estimated to be at least 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

The city's second-worst blaze on file took 176 lives in 1948 and was the result of a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when more than 600 individuals died.