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The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that killed at least 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, the majority of the residential blocks at the estate—which had been undergoing significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards.

At least 13 individuals have been arrested for potential negligent homicide, among them the executives of a contractor.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Yes, we need reform. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. Hence we must act seriously to ensure that all these gaps are addressed," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The fire—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it ignited, and necessitated in excess of 2,000 firefighters to subdue.

On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. Authorities say the inquiry could last several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have reported they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the blaze broke out. The city's fire department found that detection devices in each building were not working effectively.

The city's construction authority has put on hold renovation projects on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on charges related to sedition on the weekend. He was among a group demanding an independent inquiry into the blaze. An online petition gathered more than 10,000 endorsements in less than a day before its page was taken down.

A pair of additional persons, among them a former district councillor, were also detained by authorities, according to news outlets.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have both denounced the said apprehensions.

"This is the occasion for the city's officials to transparently investigate the causes of the devastating fire...rather than muzzling those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

Wang Fuk Court was completed in the early 1980s and had supplied close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 occupants, according to a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are thought to be over 65 years old. Some have resided in the subsidised housing estate since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on file killed 176 people in the mid-20th century and was caused by a detonation at street level at a commercial building. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when over 600 people perished.