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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an independent committee to examine the reasons of a tragic inferno that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the estate—which was subject to significant upgrades—went up in flames. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting surrounding the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.

At least 13 people have been arrested for suspected manslaughter, comprising the directors of a contractor.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. That is exactly why we must act seriously to ensure that all these deficiencies are eliminated," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The blaze—that propagated rapidly both vertically and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, approximately two days after it ignited, and required more than 2,000 firefighters to subdue.

On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the probe could require approximately a month.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have said they failed to hear a emergency siren when the fire erupted. Local firefighters discovered that alarms in every tower were operating inadequately.

The relevant regulatory body has halted for now renovation projects on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, police reportedly detained a young man on charges related to sedition on the weekend. He was involved with a collective petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An digital signature drive amassed more than 10,000 supporters in less than a day before its page was taken down.

A pair of additional persons, comprising a former district councillor, were also taken in by officers, per news outlets.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and The monitoring body have both denounced the said apprehensions.

"This is the occasion for the Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...instead of silencing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was completed in the early 1980s and had provided nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, based on a recent official survey.

Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are estimated to be over 65 years old. A number have lived in the government-supported development since it was built.

The city's second-most fatal incident on in history killed 176 lives in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at Happy Valley Racecourse in 1918, when more than 600 individuals died.