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The city's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to examine the reasons of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

This past Wednesday, most of the tower blocks at the housing complex—which was subject to major refurbishment—were consumed by a blaze. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards.

A minimum of 13 individuals have been taken into custody over alleged culpable homicide, comprising the senior figures of a building firm.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must act seriously to guarantee all these loopholes are plucked," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The blaze—that propagated rapidly both upwards and across the separate towers—was finally put out by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it began, and required over 2,000 fire service personnel to contain.

That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the inquiry could last approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have said they failed to hear a fire alarm when the fire broke out. The city's fire department determined that alarms in each building were malfunctioning.

The city's construction authority has put on hold works on 30 private projects.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on charges related to incitement on the weekend. He was involved with a collective demanding an separate review into the blaze. An internet-based appeal collected in excess of 10,000 supporters in a very short time before its information was removed.

A pair of additional persons, comprising a past council member, were also taken in by police, as reported by press accounts.

Global Response

The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both condemned the said apprehensions.

"This is the occasion for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the devastating fire...instead of suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

Wang Fuk Court was built in the early 1980s and had offered 1,984 apartments for around 4,600 inhabitants, according to a recent official survey.

Nearly 40% of its residents are estimated to be older than 65 years of age. Several have lived in the public housing complex since its construction.

The city's second-most fatal incident on record killed 176 individuals in 1948 and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when over 600 attendees died.