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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, comprising the executives of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. That is exactly why we must act seriously to guarantee all these loopholes are addressed," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—advancing with speed both upwards and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, approximately two days after it started, and took in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.

On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. Authorities say the investigation could require approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have reported they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the incident broke out. The city's fire department discovered that warning systems in each building were not working effectively.

The relevant regulatory body has temporarily suspended renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, police reportedly detained a individual on suspicion of incitement on Saturday. He was part of a collective petitioning for an separate review into the blaze. An internet-based appeal gathered in excess of 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its information was removed.

A pair of additional persons, comprising a past council member, were also questioned by officers, per local media reports.

International Reaction

The rights group and The monitoring body have both denounced the alleged detentions.

"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the causes of the tragic incident...as opposed to muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was built in 1983 and had provided 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 residents, per a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are thought to be at least 65 years of age. A number have resided in the public housing complex from its inception.

The city's second-worst blaze on file killed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when over 600 attendees died.