Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that killed at least 151 people.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
On Wednesday last week, seven of eight residential blocks at the estate—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting installed on the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.
No fewer than 13 people have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, comprising the senior figures of a contractor.
"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these gaps are addressed," he said.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The fire—which spread quickly both upwards and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it ignited, and took in excess of 2,000 firefighters to subdue.
That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the inquiry could take three to four weeks.
Systemic Failures Identified
Multiple inhabitants have stated they failed to hear a emergency siren when the fire started. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that alarms in every tower were operating inadequately.
The relevant regulatory body has temporarily suspended renovation projects on numerous private sites.
Calls for Inquiry and Arrests
In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on suspicion of incitement on Saturday. He was involved with a collective demanding an independent inquiry into the blaze. An internet-based appeal collected over 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its information was removed.
Two other people, comprising a former district councillor, were also detained by police, according to local media reports.
International Reaction
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the alleged detentions.
"The moment has come for the local government to transparently investigate the origins of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.
Historical Context and Demographics
The residential complex was completed in 1983 and had provided nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 inhabitants, according to a population count.
Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are thought to be at least 65 years of age. Some have been occupants of the public housing complex since it was built.
Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on file killed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was caused by a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in 1918, when over 600 attendees perished.
