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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to probe the origins of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, most of the tower blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting installed on the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, comprising the senior figures of a building firm.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to make certain all these loopholes are plucked," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—that propagated rapidly both upwards and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it started, and required more than 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.

That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the inquiry could last several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have said they failed to hear a fire alarm when the blaze started. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that alarms in all eight blocks were operating inadequately.

The city's construction authority has halted for now works on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on suspicion of incitement on Saturday. He was part of a group calling for an autonomous investigation into the blaze. An internet-based appeal collected in excess of 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.

Another two individuals, among them a past council member, were also detained by police, as reported by local media reports.

International Reaction

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

"This is the occasion for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to silencing those who pose valid inquiries," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was completed in 1983 and had supplied close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 inhabitants, according to a population count.

Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are believed to be older than 65 years of age. Several have been occupants of the public housing complex since its construction.

The city's second-deadliest fire on record claimed 176 people in 1948 and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in 1918, when in excess of 600 individuals died.