🔗 Share this article Hong Kong Leader Orders Investigation into Deadly Fire that Killed 151 The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that killed at least 151 people. Video shows rapid pace of blaze propagation in the city's residential tower. A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale On Wednesday last week, the majority of the residential blocks at the housing complex—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting surrounding the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance. No fewer than 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, including the senior figures of a building firm. "It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must act seriously to ensure that all these gaps are addressed," he said. Investigation and Aftermath The inferno—which spread quickly both upwards and from building to building—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it began, and necessitated more than 2,000 firefighters to subdue. That very day, police began entering the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the investigation could last approximately a month. The inferno is the worst the city has witnessed in exceeding 70 years. Systemic Failures Identified Multiple inhabitants have stated they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the fire erupted. Local firefighters determined that detection devices in each building were not working effectively. The city's construction authority has put on hold renovation projects on three dozen private developments. Calls for Inquiry and Arrests In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of sedition on Saturday. He was part of a gathering demanding an independent inquiry into the blaze. An internet-based appeal gathered in excess of 10,000 endorsements in less than a day before its contents were wiped. A pair of additional persons, comprising a past council member, were also detained by officers, per local media reports. The city's leader John Lee stated that the committee would be chaired by a member of the judiciary. Global Response The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both criticised the alleged detentions. "Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the reasons of the tragic incident...instead of silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said. Background and Resident Profile Wang Fuk Court was constructed in 1983 and had offered close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 occupants, according to a 2021 government census. Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are believed to be at least 65 years old. Some have lived in the subsidised housing estate since its construction. The city's second-deadliest fire 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 worst was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when more than 600 individuals died.