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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

This past Wednesday, the majority of the tower blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings failed to meet requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 people have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, among them the senior figures of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. Hence we must take decisive action to guarantee all these loopholes are plucked," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—that propagated rapidly both vertically and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it ignited, and required over 2,000 firefighters to contain.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the investigation could take approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have stated they did not hear a emergency siren when the fire erupted. Hong Kong's fire service determined that warning systems in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

Hong Kong's buildings department has halted for now works on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on suspicion of sedition on Saturday. He was involved with a group petitioning for an separate review into the tragedy. An digital signature drive amassed in excess of 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its contents were wiped.

Two other people, including a former district councillor, were also taken in by police, per local media reports.

Global Response

Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both condemned the alleged detentions.

"This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the catastrophic blaze...instead of suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was constructed in 1983 and had offered nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 inhabitants, per a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are estimated to be at least 65 years of age. A number have resided in the government-supported development from its inception.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on file claimed 176 individuals in 1948 and was caused by a detonation at street level at a commercial building. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when more than 600 people lost their lives.