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The city's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, the majority of the tower blocks at the estate—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that construction site netting used around the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.

A minimum of 13 individuals have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, among them the directors of a building firm.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. That is exactly why we must take decisive action to ensure that all these gaps are eliminated," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—advancing with speed both vertically and from building to building—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it began, and necessitated more than 2,000 firefighters to subdue.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the probe could last approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have stated they failed to hear a fire alarm when the fire started. Local firefighters discovered that warning systems in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

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

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on allegations of sedition on the weekend. He was involved with a collective demanding an autonomous investigation into the fire. An internet-based appeal collected more than 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, among them a past council member, were also detained by officers, according to news outlets.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both condemned the said apprehensions.

"This is the occasion for the local government to openly examine the origins of the tragic incident...as opposed to muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was constructed in 1983 and had offered 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 residents, based on a population count.

Nearly 40% of its residents are believed to be at least 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the government-supported development since its construction.

The city's second-most fatal incident on file killed 176 individuals in 1948 and was caused by a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at a sporting venue in 1918, when in excess of 600 individuals perished.