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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 tragic inferno that killed at least 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

This past Wednesday, the majority of the residential blocks at the housing complex—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that construction site netting used around the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, among them the executives of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in various phases. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these gaps are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—which spread quickly both vertically and across the separate towers—was finally put out by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it began, and took in excess of 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. Officials state the investigation could require three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have said they did not hear a fire alarm when the fire broke out. The city's fire department determined that warning systems in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

The relevant regulatory body has put on hold renovation projects on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, police reportedly detained a individual on allegations of sedition on Saturday. He was involved with a collective petitioning for an separate review into the fire. An online petition gathered over 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, comprising a past council member, were also detained by officers, per press accounts.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the said apprehensions.

"The moment has come for the city's officials to openly examine the causes of the catastrophic blaze...rather than silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was built in the early 1980s and had offered 1,984 apartments for some 4,600 inhabitants, according to a 2021 government census.

Almost four in ten of its occupants are estimated to be at least 65 years of age. A number have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on in history took 176 people in the mid-20th century and was caused by a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when more than 600 attendees perished.