🔗 Share this article Hong Kong Chief Executive Directs Investigation into Tragic Blaze that Killed 151 Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that took a minimum of 151 individuals. Video shows velocity of fire spread in Hong Kong residential tower. A Fire of Historic Proportions On Wednesday last week, most of the residential blocks at the housing complex—that was in the midst of major refurbishment—went up in flames. Investigators have since found that construction site netting installed on the buildings failed to meet flame retardant standards. A minimum of 13 people have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, comprising the directors of a construction company. "Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must take decisive action to ensure that all these deficiencies are plucked," he said. Investigation and Aftermath The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it ignited, and necessitated over 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control. The same day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the probe could last several weeks. The fire is the worst the region has seen in exceeding 70 decades. Shortcomings Uncovered Several residents have reported they were not alerted by a emergency siren when the fire broke out. Hong Kong's fire service found that detection devices in all eight blocks were not working effectively. Hong Kong's buildings department has put on hold works on three dozen private developments. Calls for Inquiry and Arrests Separately, officers took into custody a individual on charges related to sedition on Saturday. He was part of a gathering petitioning for an separate review into the tragedy. An digital signature drive gathered over 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped. Another two individuals, among them a former district councillor, were also detained by officers, as reported by news outlets. Chief executive John Lee announced that the committee would be headed by a judge. International Reaction The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both condemned the said apprehensions. "This is the occasion for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the devastating fire...rather than suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization. Background and Resident Profile Wang Fuk Court was completed in 1983 and had supplied nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 inhabitants, per a population count. Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are thought to be over 65 years of age. Some have been occupants of the government-supported development since it was built. The city's second-most fatal incident on file killed 176 people in 1948 and was caused by a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when more than 600 attendees perished.