🔗 Share this article The city's Leader Directs Probe into Tragic Inferno that Killed 151 Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an separate inquiry panel to examine the reasons of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 people. Images shows speed of fire spread in Hong Kong high-rise. A Fire of Historic Proportions On Wednesday last week, the majority of the residential blocks at the housing complex—which was subject to significant upgrades—went up in flames. Investigators have since found that protective netting installed on the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations. At least 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, among them the directors of a contractor. "Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must take decisive action to ensure that all these loopholes are eliminated," remarked Mr. Lee. Investigation and Aftermath The blaze—which spread quickly both vertically and from building to building—was finally put out by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it started, and took in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue. That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the inquiry could take several weeks. The inferno is the worst the metropolis has seen in over 70 years. Systemic Failures Identified Several residents have said they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the incident erupted. Local firefighters discovered that alarms in each building were operating inadequately. Hong Kong's buildings department has temporarily suspended works on numerous private sites. Demands for Probe and Detentions Separately, police reportedly detained a 24-year-old man on charges related to incitement on Saturday. He was part of a group calling for an separate review into the blaze. An online petition gathered over 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its information was removed. Two other people, among them a former district councillor, were also detained by authorities, as reported by local media reports. The city's leader John Lee announced that the committee would be chaired by a judicial officer. Global Response The rights group and The monitoring body have both denounced the reported arrests. "Now is the time for the city's officials to transparently investigate the causes of the devastating fire...as opposed to silencing those who ask legitimate questions," Amnesty International said. Background and Resident Profile Wang Fuk Court was completed in 1983 and had supplied nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 occupants, based on a recent official survey. Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are thought to be older than 65 years old. A number have lived in the government-supported development since it was built. Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on in history killed 176 individuals in 1948 and was caused by a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at a local racetrack in 1918, when over 600 attendees lost their lives.