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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a devastating fire that took a minimum of 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, most of the apartment buildings at the housing complex—that was in the midst of extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that construction site netting installed on the buildings fell short of flame retardant standards.

At least 13 people have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, among them the directors of a building firm.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must take decisive action to guarantee all these loopholes are addressed," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—which spread quickly both upwards and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it began, and took over 2,000 firefighters to subdue.

On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. Authorities say the probe could last approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have stated they failed to hear a smoke detector when the blaze started. Local firefighters determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

The relevant regulatory body has put on hold works on 30 private projects.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, police reportedly detained a young man on allegations of subversion on the weekend. He was among a collective calling for an separate review into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal collected more than 10,000 endorsements in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.

Another two individuals, among them a former district councillor, were also detained by officers, as reported by local media reports.

Global Response

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

"This is the occasion for the local government to transparently investigate the reasons of the tragic incident...rather than silencing those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.

Background and Resident Profile

The residential complex was built in the early 1980s and had provided close to 2,000 units for approximately 4,600 occupants, based on a recent official survey.

Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are thought to be at least 65 years of age. Several have lived in the government-supported development since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on in history took 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a sporting venue in 1918, when over 600 attendees perished.