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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a tragic inferno that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, most of the tower blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting surrounding the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards.

At least 13 people have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, comprising the executives of a contractor.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in different stages. Hence we must act seriously to guarantee all these gaps are plucked," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The blaze—which spread quickly both vertically and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it started, and required in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the investigation could require approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have said they failed to hear a smoke detector when the fire erupted. Local firefighters determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

The relevant regulatory body has put on hold construction activities on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, police reportedly detained a individual on suspicion of subversion on the weekend. He was part of a collective calling for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An online petition collected more than 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its information was removed.

Another two individuals, among them a past council member, were also detained by authorities, as reported by news outlets.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the reported arrests.

"The moment has come for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the origins of the tragic incident...as opposed to suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was constructed in 1983 and had offered close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, per a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are estimated to be at least 65 years of age. Some have lived in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

The city's second-most fatal incident on record claimed 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 1918, when in excess of 600 individuals died.