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The city's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a catastrophic blaze that took a minimum of 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, the majority of the apartment buildings at the estate—which was subject to significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 people have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, comprising the senior figures of a building firm.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to ensure that all these gaps are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—that propagated rapidly both vertically and from building to building—was finally put out by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it began, and took over 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the investigation could take several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have said they failed to hear a fire alarm when the blaze broke out. The city's fire department discovered that detection devices in each building were not working effectively.

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

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on charges related to sedition on the weekend. He was among a gathering calling for an separate review into the tragedy. An digital signature drive gathered more than 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, among them a ex-local representative, were also detained by authorities, according to news outlets.

Global Response

Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both condemned the alleged detentions.

"The moment has come for the city's officials to openly examine the reasons of the tragic incident...rather than suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was constructed in the early 1980s and had offered close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 occupants, based on a recent official survey.

Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are believed to be at least 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate from its inception.

The city's second-deadliest fire on file killed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in 1918, when over 600 people perished.