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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that took a minimum of 151 individuals.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

This past Wednesday, most of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—which was subject to major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting used around the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, comprising the senior figures of a contractor.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in various phases. Hence we must take decisive action to guarantee all these gaps are plucked," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—that propagated rapidly both upwards and across the separate towers—was finally put out by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it began, and necessitated over 2,000 firefighters to subdue.

The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. The government indicates the inquiry could take approximately a month.

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have stated they did not hear a fire alarm when the blaze erupted. Local firefighters determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

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

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, police reportedly detained a individual on charges related to incitement on Saturday. He was among a collective calling for an independent inquiry into the blaze. An digital signature drive gathered more than 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.

Two other people, comprising a former district councillor, were also questioned by police, per press accounts.

Global Response

The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both condemned the said apprehensions.

"This is the occasion for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the devastating fire...as opposed to silencing those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

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

Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are believed to be at least 65 years of age. Some have lived in the public housing complex since its construction.

The city's second-worst blaze on file took 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The worst was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 people lost their lives.