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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, seven of eight residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to major refurbishment—went up in flames. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.

A minimum of 13 suspects have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, among them the directors of a contractor.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to ensure that all these deficiencies are plucked," stated the leader.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it began, and necessitated in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to contain.

On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Officials state the probe could last approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have reported they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the incident erupted. Hong Kong's fire service determined that detection devices in every tower were operating inadequately.

The city's construction authority has put on hold renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, police reportedly detained a young man on suspicion of sedition on the weekend. He was involved with a group calling for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An internet-based appeal gathered over 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its information was removed.

Another two individuals, including a past council member, were also questioned by police, according to local media reports.

Global Response

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

"The moment has come for the city's officials to transparently investigate the causes of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to silencing those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was constructed in 1983 and had provided nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 inhabitants, according to a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are believed to be at least 65 years of age. Several have resided in the government-supported development since its construction.

The city's second-most fatal incident on record took 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The worst was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 individuals lost their lives.