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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to examine the reasons of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, most of the tower blocks at the estate—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that construction site netting used around the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

No fewer than 13 people have been taken into custody over suspected manslaughter, including the directors of a building firm.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a big fire. Yes, we need reform. Failures have been detected in different stages. Hence we must take decisive action to guarantee all these loopholes are eliminated," he said.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—that propagated rapidly both upwards and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it started, and took in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to contain.

That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. Authorities say the inquiry could last several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Multiple inhabitants have reported they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the blaze erupted. Local firefighters determined that detection devices in each building were not working effectively.

The city's construction authority has temporarily suspended renovation projects on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, police reportedly detained a individual on allegations of incitement on the weekend. He was among a collective petitioning for an separate review into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal amassed over 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its contents were wiped.

A pair of additional persons, comprising a ex-local representative, were also taken in by authorities, as reported by news outlets.

International Reaction

The rights group and The monitoring body have both condemned the reported arrests.

"The moment has come for the city's officials to transparently investigate the reasons of the tragic incident...rather than muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was built in 1983 and had supplied 1,984 apartments for some 4,600 inhabitants, based on a recent official survey.

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are believed to be over 65 years of age. Some have lived in the public housing complex from its inception.

The city's second-deadliest fire on file killed 176 lives in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 individuals lost their lives.