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The city's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that killed at least 151 individuals.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, the majority of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. Authorities later discovered that protective netting surrounding the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been taken into custody over alleged culpable homicide, comprising the directors of a construction company.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in different stages. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these deficiencies are eliminated," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—advancing with speed both vertically and from building to building—was finally put out by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it started, and necessitated over 2,000 firefighters to contain.

The same day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the probe could last several weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have stated they did not hear a emergency siren when the blaze started. Hong Kong's fire service determined that alarms in each building were not working effectively.

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

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of subversion on the weekend. He was part of a gathering petitioning for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An online petition gathered more than 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.

Two other people, comprising a ex-local representative, were also questioned by authorities, per news outlets.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both denounced the reported arrests.

"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the catastrophic blaze...rather than muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was completed in the early 1980s and had provided nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 occupants, according to a population count.

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

Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on file claimed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when over 600 individuals lost their lives.