🔗 Share this article Hong Kong Chief Executive Directs Investigation into Tragic Inferno that Claimed Lives of 151 The city's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that took a minimum of 151 individuals. Footage reveals speed of fire spread in Hong Kong high-rise. A Fire of Historic Proportions Last Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the estate—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—went up in flames. Investigators have since found that construction site netting surrounding the buildings failed to meet flame retardant standards. At least 13 individuals have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, comprising the senior figures of a construction company. "It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. Hence we must act seriously to guarantee all these loopholes are eliminated," he said. Investigation and Aftermath The blaze—that propagated rapidly both vertically and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, around 40 hours after it ignited, and took over 2,000 emergency responders to subdue. On that day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the inquiry could require several weeks. The fire is the deadliest the city has seen in over 70 decades. Systemic Failures Identified Multiple inhabitants have said they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the incident erupted. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that detection devices in each building were not working effectively. The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended renovation projects on 30 private projects. Demands for Probe and Detentions Additionally, police reportedly detained a individual on charges related to incitement on Saturday. He was among a group petitioning for an separate review into the fire. An digital signature drive collected more than 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its contents were wiped. A pair of additional persons, including a ex-local representative, were also taken in by authorities, per press accounts. Hong Kong's top official John Lee said that the committee would be chaired by a judge. International Reaction The rights group and The monitoring body have both criticised the alleged detentions. "This is the occasion for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...instead of suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group. Background and Resident Profile The residential complex was constructed in the early 1980s and had supplied nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 occupants, per a recent official survey. Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are believed to be at least 65 years old. Some have lived in the public housing complex from its inception. The city's second-deadliest fire on in history claimed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when more than 600 individuals perished.