🔗 Share this article The city's Leader Orders Probe into Fatal Fire that Claimed Lives of 151 The city's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 people. Footage shows velocity of flames advancing in the city's tower block. A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale This past Wednesday, the majority of the residential blocks at the Wang Fuk Court—which was subject to significant upgrades—went up in flames. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards. A minimum of 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, including the directors of a construction company. "It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Reform is necessary. We have uncovered shortcomings in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to ensure that all these gaps are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee. Investigation and Aftermath The fire—advancing with speed both upwards and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by Friday morning, some 40 hours after it started, and took over 2,000 emergency responders to subdue. On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the inquiry could take approximately a month. The inferno is the worst the region has seen in exceeding 70 years. Shortcomings Uncovered A number of occupants have said they did not hear a fire alarm when the fire erupted. The city's fire department determined that alarms in every tower were operating inadequately. The city's construction authority has halted for now renovation projects on three dozen private developments. Calls for Inquiry and Arrests Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on suspicion of subversion on Saturday. He was part of a collective petitioning for an independent inquiry into the fire. An internet-based appeal collected in excess of 10,000 signatures in a very short time before its information was removed. Two other people, including a former district councillor, were also questioned by officers, per news outlets. Chief executive John Lee said that the task force would be headed by a judge. Global Response Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the said apprehensions. "This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the origins of the tragic incident...as opposed to muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization. Background and Resident Profile Wang Fuk Court was completed in 1983 and had provided nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 inhabitants, per a 2021 government census. Almost four in ten of its residents are estimated to be older than 65 years of age. Some have lived in the subsidised housing estate since it was built. The city's second-deadliest fire on file killed 176 lives in 1948 and was caused by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when more than 600 people lost their lives.