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The city's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 residents.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, most of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting installed on the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.

A minimum of 13 individuals have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, comprising the senior figures of a contractor.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a big fire. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these deficiencies are addressed," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—which spread quickly both upwards and from building to building—was finally put out by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it began, and required more than 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the inquiry could require three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have stated they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the blaze started. Hong Kong's fire service determined that alarms in each building were malfunctioning.

The city's construction authority has halted for now construction activities on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, officers took into custody a young man on suspicion of incitement on the weekend. He was among a collective calling for an separate review into the fire. An internet-based appeal amassed more than 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its information was removed.

Two other people, including a ex-local representative, were also questioned by authorities, as reported by news outlets.

International Reaction

The rights group and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the alleged detentions.

"This is the occasion for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the devastating fire...instead of suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was built in the early 1980s and had supplied 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 occupants, according to a 2021 government census.

Almost four in ten of its occupants are estimated to be at least 65 years old. Some have been occupants of the public housing complex from its inception.

The city's second-deadliest fire on record took 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a commercial building. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when more than 600 attendees perished.