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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, seven of eight residential blocks at the housing complex—which was subject to significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that protective netting used around the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.

No fewer than 13 people have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, among them the senior figures of a contractor.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. Hence we must act seriously to ensure that all these gaps are plucked," stated the leader.

Investigation and Aftermath

The fire—advancing with speed both upwards and across the separate towers—was finally put out by Friday morning, approximately two days after it began, and necessitated more than 2,000 emergency responders to contain.

On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the inquiry could take three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have stated they did not hear a emergency siren when the incident erupted. Hong Kong's fire service determined that warning systems in each building were operating inadequately.

The relevant regulatory body has put on hold renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

In a related development, officers took into custody a young man on suspicion of subversion on Saturday. He was involved with a group calling for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An online petition gathered more than 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.

A pair of additional persons, comprising a ex-local representative, were also detained by police, as reported by local media reports.

Global Response

Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both denounced the said apprehensions.

"The moment has come for the local government to openly examine the reasons of the tragic incident...as opposed to muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was completed in 1983 and had provided 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 residents, according to a population count.

Nearly 40% of its residents are thought to be at least 65 years old. Some have lived in the government-supported development from its inception.

The city's second-worst blaze on record killed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at a local racetrack in 1918, when over 600 people lost their lives.