🔗 Share this article The city's Leader Orders Investigation into Fatal Blaze that Claimed Lives of 151 The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that killed at least 151 residents. Video reveals speed of fire spread in the city's residential tower. A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale On Wednesday last week, most of the residential blocks at the estate—which was subject to major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh used around the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards. No fewer than 13 individuals have been arrested for potential negligent homicide, including the directors of a construction company. "Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these gaps are addressed," he said. Investigation and Aftermath The blaze—that propagated rapidly both upwards and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it ignited, and took more than 2,000 firefighters to subdue. That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the probe could require three to four weeks. The fire is the deadliest the metropolis has witnessed in exceeding 70 years. Shortcomings Uncovered A number of occupants have stated they did not hear a smoke detector when the fire started. The city's fire department found that detection devices in each building were malfunctioning. The relevant regulatory body has halted for now works on three dozen private developments. Calls for Inquiry and Arrests In a related development, authorities are said to have arrested a young man on suspicion of incitement on Saturday. He was part of a collective calling for an independent inquiry into the blaze. An online petition collected in excess of 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped. Two other people, comprising a former district councillor, were also taken in by authorities, per press accounts. Chief executive John Lee announced that the task force would be chaired by a judicial officer. International Reaction Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both denounced the reported arrests. "This is the occasion for the city's officials to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the devastating fire...rather than muzzling those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group. Historical Context and Demographics The housing estate was constructed in 1983 and had provided close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 inhabitants, based on a population count. Almost four in ten of its residents are estimated to be at least 65 years old. A number have been occupants of the public housing complex from its inception. Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on record claimed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when more than 600 individuals lost their lives.