🔗 Share this article Hong Kong Chief Executive Orders Probe into Tragic Blaze that Claimed Lives of 151 The city's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 people. Images shows rapid pace of fire spread in Hong Kong residential tower. A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale Last Wednesday, the majority of the residential blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings failed to meet fire safety regulations. A minimum of 13 suspects have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, among them the senior figures of a contractor. "It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in different stages. Hence we must act seriously to make certain all these deficiencies are addressed," stated the leader. Investigation and Aftermath The inferno—that propagated rapidly both vertically and across the separate towers—was finally put out by the end of the week, approximately two days after it ignited, and required in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to contain. On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the inquiry could last three to four weeks. This blaze is the deadliest the city has experienced in over 70 years. Shortcomings Uncovered Multiple inhabitants have said they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the fire started. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that warning systems in all eight blocks were malfunctioning. The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended construction activities on 30 private projects. Demands for Probe and Detentions In a related development, officers took into custody a young man on allegations of subversion on Saturday. He was among a collective petitioning for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An online petition gathered in excess of 10,000 endorsements in less than a day before its contents were wiped. A pair of additional persons, comprising a ex-local representative, were also questioned by officers, per press accounts. The city's leader John Lee said that the committee would be headed by a member of the judiciary. Global Response The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both condemned the reported arrests. "Now is the time for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the tragic incident...rather than muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," Amnesty International said. Background and Resident Profile Wang Fuk Court was completed in the early 1980s and had supplied nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 occupants, according to a 2021 government census. Nearly 40% of its residents are thought to be over 65 years old. A number have lived in the public housing complex from its inception. Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on record claimed 176 individuals in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at a sporting venue in 1918, when more than 600 individuals lost their lives.