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The city's leader, 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 Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, most of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting surrounding the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 suspects have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, including the directors of a construction company.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in different stages. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these loopholes are addressed," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and between the blocks—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it started, and required more than 2,000 fire service personnel to contain.

The same day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the probe could take three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have reported they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the incident erupted. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that warning systems in every tower were not working effectively.

Hong Kong's buildings department has put on hold renovation projects on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, officers took into custody a individual on suspicion of incitement on Saturday. He was part of a collective demanding an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An digital signature drive gathered in excess of 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its information was removed.

A pair of additional persons, comprising a past council member, were also taken in by officers, per news outlets.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the alleged detentions.

"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the tragic incident...rather than suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

The residential complex was constructed in 1983 and had offered 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 occupants, per a 2021 government census.

Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are thought to be older than 65 years of age. Some have resided in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

The city's second-deadliest fire on file claimed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in 1918, when more than 600 attendees lost their lives.