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

A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale

This past Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the housing complex—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—were engulfed by fire. Investigators have since found that construction site netting surrounding the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.

A minimum of 13 individuals have been taken into custody over potential negligent homicide, including the directors of a construction company.

"It is a terrible tragedy, it is a major blaze. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. This is precisely the reason we must act seriously to ensure that all these gaps are addressed," he said.

Investigation and Aftermath

The inferno—advancing with speed both upwards and between the blocks—was only fully doused by the morning of Friday, approximately two days after it ignited, and required in excess of 2,000 firefighters to bring under control.

That very day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the investigation could last three to four weeks.

Systemic Failures Identified

A number of occupants have said they failed to hear a smoke detector when the blaze erupted. The city's fire department discovered that alarms in each building were operating inadequately.

The relevant regulatory body has halted for now works on three dozen private developments.

Demands for Probe and Detentions

In a related development, officers took into custody a young man on charges related to subversion on Saturday. He was part of a collective calling for an autonomous investigation into the fire. An internet-based appeal gathered in excess of 10,000 supporters in less than a day before its page was taken down.

Another two individuals, including a ex-local representative, were also questioned by police, per news outlets.

International Reaction

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

"This is the occasion for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the causes of the catastrophic blaze...rather than muzzling those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was completed in the early 1980s and had provided close to 2,000 units for around 4,600 residents, according to a recent official survey.

Nearly 40% of its inhabitants are estimated to be at least 65 years old. Some have lived in the subsidised housing estate since it was built.

The city's second-deadliest fire on file claimed 176 individuals in 1948 and was caused by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The deadliest was at a sporting venue in 1918, when more than 600 attendees lost their lives.