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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to examine the reasons of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, most of the apartment buildings at the estate—which was subject to significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting used around the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.

A minimum of 13 individuals have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, including the executives of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in various phases. That is exactly why 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 vertically and from building to building—was only fully doused by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it began, and required in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to contain.

That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the probe could require several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have said they did not hear a smoke detector when the blaze started. Local firefighters discovered that warning systems in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended works on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, officers took into custody a individual on allegations of incitement on the weekend. He was involved with a collective petitioning for an independent inquiry into the blaze. An digital signature drive collected in excess of 10,000 endorsements in less than a day before its information was removed.

A pair of additional persons, among them a past council member, were also questioned by police, per press accounts.

Global Response

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both condemned the reported arrests.

"This is the occasion for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the tragic incident...rather than suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was constructed in 1983 and had supplied nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 residents, based on a recent official survey.

Nearly 40% of its occupants are believed to be at least 65 years old. Some have lived in the government-supported development since its construction.

The city's second-worst blaze on file took 176 people in 1948 and was caused by a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The worst was at a sporting venue in 1918, when over 600 people perished.