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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, seven of eight apartment buildings at the estate—which was subject to major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that protective netting used around the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, comprising the directors of a construction company.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. Hence we must act seriously to ensure that all these loopholes are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, approximately two days after it began, and necessitated in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.

That very day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the inquiry could require several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have said they failed to hear a fire alarm when the blaze broke out. Local firefighters discovered that alarms in every tower were operating inadequately.

The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended works on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on allegations of subversion on the weekend. He was part of a collective demanding an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An online petition amassed in excess of 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its information was removed.

Another two individuals, including a past council member, were also detained by officers, per local media reports.

Global Response

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

"The moment has come for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...instead of suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was built in the early 1980s and had provided close to 2,000 units for some 4,600 occupants, per a recent official survey.

Nearly 40% of its occupants are thought to be at least 65 years old. Some have resided in the public housing complex since it was built.

The city's second-most fatal incident on in history killed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The worst was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 attendees perished.