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Hong Kong's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that claimed the lives of 151 people.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

On Wednesday last week, most of the tower blocks at the estate—which was subject to extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that protective netting installed on the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.

A minimum of 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, comprising the senior figures of a contractor.

"This is indeed a tragedy, it is a big fire. Changes are required. Failures have been detected in different stages. This is precisely the reason we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these loopholes are eliminated," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The blaze—advancing with speed both upwards and across the separate towers—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it started, and took in excess of 2,000 emergency responders to subdue.

On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to secure proof. The government indicates the inquiry could require several weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

Multiple inhabitants have stated they did not hear a emergency siren when the fire erupted. The city's fire department found that warning systems in every tower were operating inadequately.

Hong Kong's buildings department has halted for now construction activities on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, officers took into custody a 24-year-old man on allegations of sedition on Saturday. He was involved with a collective petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An digital signature drive gathered over 10,000 supporters in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.

Another two individuals, including a former district councillor, were also questioned by officers, as reported by news outlets.

International Reaction

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

"The moment has come for the city's officials to openly examine the reasons of the catastrophic blaze...as opposed to suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," Amnesty International said.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was built in 1983 and had provided nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 inhabitants, according to a recent official survey.

Almost four in ten of its inhabitants are thought to be at least 65 years of age. A number have resided in the public housing complex since its construction.

The city's second-most fatal incident on record killed 176 individuals in the mid-20th century and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a five-storey warehouse. The most deadly was at Happy Valley Racecourse in the early 1900s, when in excess of 600 attendees died.