🔗 Share this article Hong Kong Leader Orders Investigation into Fatal Fire that Killed 151 The city's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that killed at least 151 individuals. Video depicts rapid pace of fire spread in the city's tower block. A Fire of Historic Proportions On Wednesday last week, the majority of the residential blocks at the housing complex—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—went up in flames. Investigators have since found that construction site netting installed on the buildings failed to meet fire safety regulations. At least 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, among them the executives of a building firm. "Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to guarantee all these gaps are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee. The Probe and Its Consequences The fire—advancing with speed both vertically and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it started, and necessitated more than 2,000 fire service personnel to contain. The same day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the inquiry could last approximately a month. This blaze is the most fatal the city has witnessed in over 70 decades. Shortcomings Uncovered Several residents have stated they failed to hear a fire alarm when the incident started. Local firefighters discovered that warning systems in each building were operating inadequately. The relevant regulatory body has halted for now construction activities on numerous private sites. Demands for Probe and Detentions In a related development, police reportedly detained a young man on suspicion of sedition on Saturday. He was part of a gathering calling for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An digital signature drive amassed more than 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its information was removed. A pair of additional persons, comprising a former district councillor, were also taken in by officers, according to local media reports. Hong Kong's top official John Lee stated that the committee would be led by a judge. Global Response Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both denounced the alleged detentions. "Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the causes of the devastating fire...rather than suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said. Historical Context and Demographics The residential complex was built in the early 1980s and had provided 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 residents, based on a recent official survey. Nearly 40% of its occupants are thought to be older than 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the government-supported development since it was built. The city's second-deadliest fire on record took 176 lives in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at a sporting venue in 1918, when over 600 attendees perished.