🔗 Share this article The city's Chief Executive Directs Probe into Tragic Fire that Took 151 The city's chief executive, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a catastrophic blaze that took a minimum of 151 people. Footage reveals rapid pace of fire spread in Hong Kong high-rise. A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale This past Wednesday, most of the tower blocks at the housing complex—which was subject to major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that construction site netting installed on the buildings failed to meet flame retardant standards. At least 13 people have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, among them the executives of a construction company. "It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to make certain all these gaps are addressed," he said. Investigation and Aftermath The inferno—that propagated rapidly both vertically and between the blocks—was only fully doused by Friday morning, around 40 hours after it started, and took in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue. That very day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the probe could take three to four weeks. The fire is the worst the region has experienced in exceeding 70 years. Shortcomings Uncovered Multiple inhabitants have said they did not hear a emergency siren when the fire started. Hong Kong's fire service discovered that alarms in each building were not working effectively. The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended works on numerous private sites. Calls for Inquiry and Arrests Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on suspicion of sedition on Saturday. He was involved with a group calling for an independent inquiry into the fire. An online petition collected more than 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its page was taken down. Another two individuals, among them a former district councillor, were also taken in by police, according to news outlets. Chief executive John Lee announced that the task force would be chaired by a judicial officer. Global Response The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both criticised the alleged detentions. "This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the causes of the catastrophic blaze...instead of silencing those who pose valid inquiries," stated the organization. Background and Resident Profile The housing estate was constructed in the early 1980s and had offered close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 residents, per a 2021 government census. Almost four in ten of its residents are thought to be over 65 years old. A number have lived in the public housing complex since it was built. Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on record took 176 people in 1948 and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 individuals died.