🔗 Share this article The city's Chief Executive Orders Investigation into Tragic Fire that Killed 151 The city's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 residents. Video reveals speed of flames advancing in Hong Kong residential tower. A Fire of Historic Proportions On Wednesday last week, most of the tower blocks at the housing complex—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—went up in flames. Investigators have since found that construction site netting surrounding the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance. At least 13 people have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, including the senior figures of a construction company. "Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in various phases. Hence we must act seriously to ensure that all these loopholes are plucked," he said. The Probe and Its Consequences The fire—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was not completely extinguished 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 collect forensic material. Authorities say the investigation could take three to four weeks. This blaze is the most fatal the city has seen in over 70 decades. Systemic Failures Identified Multiple inhabitants have reported they failed to hear a fire alarm when the incident started. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that warning systems in all eight blocks were not working effectively. The relevant regulatory body has put on hold works on three dozen private developments. Demands for Probe and Detentions Separately, officers took into custody a young man on charges related to incitement on the weekend. He was involved with a gathering petitioning for an separate review into the fire. An digital signature drive gathered more than 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its page was taken down. A pair of additional persons, including a former district councillor, were also questioned by authorities, per press accounts. Chief executive John Lee stated that the inquiry would be headed by a judicial officer. Global Response The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both denounced the reported arrests. "The moment has come for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the tragic incident...as opposed to suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said. Background and Resident Profile The residential complex was completed in the early 1980s and had offered close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, per a population count. Almost four in ten of its residents are estimated to be over 65 years old. Several have been occupants of the public housing complex from its inception. Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on in history claimed 176 individuals in 1948 and was caused by a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when more than 600 individuals died.