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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that claimed the lives of 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

This past Wednesday, most of the tower blocks at the housing complex—which was subject to major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 people have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, among them the directors of a building firm.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in different stages. Hence we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these loopholes are plucked," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—advancing with speed both upwards and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it ignited, and took more than 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.

On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the investigation could require approximately a month.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have stated they did not hear a fire alarm when the incident started. The city's fire department determined that warning systems in every tower were malfunctioning.

The relevant regulatory body has temporarily suspended renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, officers took into custody a young man on charges related to subversion on Saturday. He was involved with a collective calling for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An online petition collected in excess of 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its page was taken down.

Two other people, among them a ex-local representative, were also detained by authorities, according to news outlets.

International Reaction

The rights group and Another watchdog have both condemned the alleged detentions.

"The moment has come for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the origins of the devastating fire...as opposed to silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.

Background and Resident Profile

The residential complex was constructed in 1983 and had offered nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 residents, per a recent official survey.

Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are thought to be older than 65 years old. A number have resided in the government-supported development from its inception.

Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on file claimed 176 lives in 1948 and was caused by a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a sporting venue in 1918, when over 600 attendees lost their lives.