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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an autonomous task force to examine the reasons of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

This past Wednesday, most of the apartment buildings at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting used around the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.

A minimum of 13 individuals have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, including the executives of a building firm.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in different stages. Hence we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these gaps are addressed," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—that propagated rapidly both vertically and from building to building—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it started, and necessitated over 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.

On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the probe could take several weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have said they did not hear a fire alarm when the fire broke out. Hong Kong's fire service determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

The relevant regulatory body has put on hold construction activities on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, police reportedly detained a young man on suspicion of subversion on Saturday. He was among a gathering demanding an autonomous investigation into the fire. An internet-based appeal collected more than 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its page was taken down.

A pair of additional persons, among them a ex-local representative, were also taken in by police, according to local media reports.

Global Response

The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both criticised the said apprehensions.

"The moment has come for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...instead of muzzling those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was constructed in 1983 and had supplied 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 occupants, according to a population count.

Nearly 40% of its residents are estimated to be at least 65 years of age. Some have lived in the public housing complex since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on record took 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when more than 600 individuals died.