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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

This past Wednesday, seven of eight residential blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that construction site netting surrounding the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.

No fewer than 13 individuals have been arrested for potential negligent homicide, comprising the directors of a contractor.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. Hence we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these gaps are eliminated," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—advancing with speed both vertically and from building to building—was finally put out by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it started, and took more than 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

The same day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the probe could require several weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have said they failed to hear a fire alarm when the fire broke out. Local firefighters found that warning systems in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended works on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on allegations of incitement on Saturday. He was among a gathering petitioning for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An online petition gathered over 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its information was removed.

Two other people, comprising a former district councillor, were also detained by authorities, according to news outlets.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both criticised the said apprehensions.

"This is the occasion for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the devastating fire...rather than suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was constructed in the early 1980s and had offered nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 inhabitants, per a population count.

Nearly 40% of its residents are believed to be at least 65 years of age. Some have resided in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

The city's second-deadliest fire on record took 176 people in 1948 and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a commercial building. The most deadly was at a sporting venue in 1918, when in excess of 600 individuals lost their lives.