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Hong Kong's leader, John Lee, has ordered the creation of an independent committee to probe the origins of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 individuals.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

This past Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the housing complex—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that safety scaffolding mesh surrounding the buildings fell short of requirements for fire resistance.

At least 13 individuals have been taken into custody over alleged culpable homicide, comprising the executives of a building firm.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to make certain all these gaps are addressed," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The fire—that propagated rapidly both upwards and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it began, and took in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.

On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the probe could take several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have stated they failed to hear a smoke detector when the blaze started. The city's fire department discovered that detection devices in every tower were not working effectively.

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

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, police reportedly detained a young man on suspicion of subversion on Saturday. He was involved with a gathering demanding an autonomous investigation into the blaze. An internet-based appeal gathered more than 10,000 endorsements in less than a day before its information was removed.

A pair of additional persons, comprising a former district councillor, were also detained by officers, per news outlets.

International Reaction

Amnesty International and Another watchdog have both condemned the reported arrests.

"The moment has come for the Hong Kong authorities to transparently investigate the origins of the devastating fire...rather than suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Background and Resident Profile

The housing estate was constructed in 1983 and had offered 1,984 apartments for some 4,600 occupants, per a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are estimated to be at least 65 years of age. Some have been occupants of the public housing complex since it was built.

Hong Kong's second-worst blaze on record killed 176 people in 1948 and was the result of a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at a local racetrack in 1918, when in excess of 600 people perished.