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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, the majority of the tower blocks at the housing complex—which was subject to significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting surrounding the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.

No fewer than 13 suspects have been arrested for potential negligent homicide, among them the executives of a construction company.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in various phases. That is exactly why we must take decisive action to guarantee all these deficiencies are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—that propagated rapidly both upwards and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it started, and took in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to contain.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the inquiry could require several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have said they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the incident started. The city's fire department discovered that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

The city's construction authority has halted for now construction activities on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, officers took into custody a 24-year-old man on allegations of subversion on the weekend. He was among a gathering calling for an separate review into the blaze. An online petition collected more than 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, including a former district councillor, were also questioned by officers, per press accounts.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both condemned the said apprehensions.

"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the causes of the devastating fire...instead of silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was constructed in the early 1980s and had offered 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 occupants, per a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are thought to be at least 65 years old. Several have been occupants of the government-supported development since its construction.

The city's second-worst blaze on file claimed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 individuals perished.