🔗 Share this article Hong Kong Chief Executive Orders Probe into Tragic Blaze that Took 151 The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 residents. Footage reveals rapid pace of fire spread in Hong Kong high-rise. A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale On Wednesday last week, most of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh 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 senior figures of a construction company. "This is indeed a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in different stages. Hence we must act seriously to make certain all these gaps are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee. The Probe and Its Consequences The fire—which spread quickly both upwards and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it ignited, and required more than 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control. That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the investigation could take three to four weeks. The inferno is the deadliest the metropolis has experienced in over 70 decades. Shortcomings Uncovered Multiple inhabitants have said they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the fire broke out. The city's fire department found that alarms in every tower were operating inadequately. The city's construction authority has halted for now works on three dozen private developments. Calls for Inquiry and Arrests Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on suspicion of subversion on the weekend. He was involved with a gathering petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the blaze. An online petition collected more than 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its page was taken down. A pair of additional persons, among them a ex-local representative, were also taken in by police, as reported by local media reports. Chief executive John Lee announced that the task force would be headed by a judge. International Reaction The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both criticised the reported arrests. "The moment has come for the Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the reasons of the devastating fire...instead of muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization. Background and Resident Profile The residential complex was constructed in 1983 and had provided nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 occupants, based on a population count. Approximately 40 percent of its residents are estimated to be over 65 years old. A number have lived in the government-supported development since it was built. The city's second-most fatal incident on record took 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when over 600 individuals died.