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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, the majority of the tower blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that protective netting installed on the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.

At least 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, including the executives of a building firm.

"It is a terrible tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in various phases. That is exactly why we must act seriously to ensure that all these gaps are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—advancing with speed both upwards and between the blocks—was finally put out by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it began, and necessitated more than 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.

The same day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the probe could take approximately a month.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have reported they failed to hear a fire alarm when the fire broke out. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that alarms in each building were not working effectively.

Hong Kong's buildings department has put on hold works on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, police reportedly detained a individual on allegations of incitement on the weekend. He was part of a gathering demanding an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal amassed in excess of 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its information was removed.

Another two individuals, including a former district councillor, were also detained by officers, according to local media reports.

Global Response

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

"Now is the time for the local government to transparently investigate the causes of the devastating fire...as opposed to silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

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

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are thought to be older than 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the public housing complex from its inception.

The city's second-worst blaze on record killed 176 individuals in 1948 and was caused by a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when more than 600 attendees lost their lives.