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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, most of the apartment buildings at the estate—which was subject to significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.

At least 13 people have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, comprising the executives of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to make certain all these gaps are addressed," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—advancing with speed both vertically and across the separate towers—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it ignited, and took more than 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.

The same day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the inquiry could last approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have said they failed to hear a fire alarm when the fire started. Local firefighters found that detection devices in every tower were not working effectively.

The city's construction authority has halted for now construction activities on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, officers took into custody a young man on suspicion of sedition on the weekend. He was among a group petitioning for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An digital signature drive collected in excess of 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its information was removed.

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

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both condemned the alleged detentions.

"The moment has come for the Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the origins of the devastating fire...instead of suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was built in the early 1980s and had supplied 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 occupants, per a recent official survey.

Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are believed to be older than 65 years old. Several have resided in the government-supported development since it was built.

The city's second-deadliest fire on in history killed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 people died.