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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 devastating fire that killed at least 151 people.

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

On Wednesday last week, the majority of the apartment buildings at the estate—which was subject to extensive renovations—were consumed by a blaze. Investigators have since found that protective netting installed on the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 suspects have been arrested for alleged culpable homicide, among them the senior figures of a construction company.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in various phases. Hence we must take decisive action to ensure that all these deficiencies are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—that propagated rapidly both upwards and from building to building—was finally put out by the end of the week, around 40 hours after it began, and took more than 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.

That very day, police began entering the buildings to collect forensic material. Authorities say the inquiry could take approximately a month.

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have stated they did not hear a fire alarm when the blaze started. Local firefighters determined that detection devices in every tower were malfunctioning.

The relevant regulatory body has temporarily suspended construction activities on numerous private sites.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

Additionally, authorities are said to have arrested a 24-year-old man on allegations of incitement on Saturday. He was part of a gathering petitioning for an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An online petition collected more than 10,000 endorsements in less than a day before its page was taken down.

A pair of additional persons, among them a past council member, were also detained by police, as reported by press accounts.

International Reaction

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

"Now is the time for the Hong Kong authorities to openly examine the reasons of the devastating fire...instead of muzzling those who pose valid inquiries," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

The housing estate was constructed in the early 1980s and had provided 1,984 apartments for approximately 4,600 residents, per a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its inhabitants are believed to be over 65 years of age. Several have been occupants of the government-supported development since its construction.

Hong Kong's second-most fatal incident on record claimed 176 lives in the mid-20th century and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at a sporting venue in the early 1900s, when over 600 attendees perished.