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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an autonomous task force to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

Last Wednesday, the majority of the tower blocks at the housing complex—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—went up in flames. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 individuals have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, comprising the directors of a contractor.

"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. Hence we must take decisive action to guarantee all these deficiencies are addressed," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—which spread quickly both vertically and between the blocks—was finally put out by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it started, and required over 2,000 emergency responders to bring under control.

On that day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the inquiry could require three to four weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

A number of occupants have stated they were not alerted by a smoke detector when the blaze started. The city's fire department found that alarms in all eight blocks were operating inadequately.

The city's construction authority has put on hold works on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Separately, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on suspicion of sedition on Saturday. He was involved with a collective petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An digital signature drive amassed over 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, comprising a past council member, were also detained by authorities, per local media reports.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both denounced the reported arrests.

"Now is the time for the city's officials to openly examine the origins of the tragic incident...instead of muzzling those who raise appropriate concerns," stated the organization.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was completed in 1983 and had supplied nearly two thousand flats for some 4,600 residents, based on a population count.

Almost four in ten of its residents are estimated to be older than 65 years old. Several have been occupants of the government-supported development since its construction.

The city's second-deadliest fire on file took 176 lives in 1948 and was caused by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The deadliest was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 people died.