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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an autonomous task force to examine the reasons of a catastrophic blaze that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, the majority of the residential blocks at the estate—which was subject to major refurbishment—went up in flames. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings did not comply with flame retardant standards.

A minimum of 13 individuals have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, including the executives of a construction company.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to make certain all these gaps are addressed," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—that propagated rapidly both upwards and from building to building—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it ignited, and necessitated over 2,000 firefighters to subdue.

On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to collect forensic material. Officials state the investigation could require three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Several residents have reported they failed to hear a emergency siren when the fire started. The city's fire department determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were not working effectively.

The city's construction authority has halted for now works on numerous private sites.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a individual on suspicion of incitement on the weekend. He was among a gathering calling for an independent inquiry into the blaze. An online petition amassed more than 10,000 endorsements in a very short time before its page was taken down.

A pair of additional persons, among them a former district councillor, were also detained by authorities, according to press accounts.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and The monitoring body have both denounced the reported arrests.

"The moment has come for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the reasons of the devastating fire...instead of suppressing those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was completed in the early 1980s and had offered nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 occupants, per a recent official survey.

Almost four in ten of its residents are estimated to be over 65 years old. Several have been occupants of the subsidised housing estate since its construction.

The city's second-worst blaze on in history took 176 people in 1948 and was triggered by a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The worst was at a local racetrack in the early 1900s, when more than 600 individuals died.