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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a catastrophic blaze that killed at least 151 individuals.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, the majority of the tower blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—went up in flames. Authorities later discovered that construction site netting used around the buildings fell short of fire safety regulations.

At least 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of suspected manslaughter, comprising the executives of a contractor.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in various phases. That is exactly why we must take decisive action to make certain all these loopholes are addressed," stated the leader.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The inferno—which spread quickly both upwards and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by Friday morning, approximately two days after it ignited, and took over 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.

That very day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the probe could last several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have said they were not alerted by a fire alarm when the blaze started. Local firefighters discovered that detection devices in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.

The relevant regulatory body has put on hold works on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, officers took into custody a 24-year-old man on allegations of sedition on the weekend. He was part of a collective calling for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An internet-based appeal amassed over 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its contents were wiped.

Another two individuals, including a past council member, were also taken in by police, according to news outlets.

Global Response

The rights group and The monitoring body have both criticised the alleged detentions.

"This is the occasion for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the devastating fire...as opposed to suppressing those who pose valid inquiries," Amnesty International said.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was built in 1983 and had offered 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, per a recent official survey.

Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are estimated to be over 65 years old. Several have been occupants of the government-supported development from its inception.

Hong Kong's second-deadliest fire on record claimed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was the result of a ground-floor explosion at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at a local racetrack in 1918, when more than 600 people lost their lives.