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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

This past Wednesday, the majority of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—which was subject to significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that protective netting installed on the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.

No fewer than 13 people have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, comprising the executives of a building firm.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these deficiencies are addressed," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—advancing with speed both upwards and across the separate towers—was finally put out by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it ignited, and required more than 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the investigation could take approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have said they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the blaze broke out. The city's fire department determined that alarms in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

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

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on suspicion of sedition on Saturday. He was among a gathering calling for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An online petition amassed more than 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, comprising a past council member, were also questioned by authorities, according to news outlets.

International Reaction

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

"This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the origins of the devastating fire...instead of suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was built in the early 1980s and had provided nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 residents, based on a recent official survey.

Nearly 40% of its residents are estimated to be older than 65 years of age. A number have been occupants of the public housing complex since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on record claimed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a detonation at street level at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in 1918, when over 600 people died.