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The city's chief executive, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to investigate the cause of a tragic inferno that took a minimum of 151 residents.

A Fire of Historic Proportions

Last Wednesday, most of the residential blocks at the estate—which had been undergoing extensive renovations—went up in flames. Authorities later discovered that protective netting used around the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.

A minimum of 13 suspects have been detained on suspicion of potential negligent homicide, comprising the executives of a building firm.

"Yes, it is a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Yes, we have identified failures in multiple areas. Hence we must act seriously to make certain all these deficiencies are addressed," remarked Mr. Lee.

The Probe and Its Consequences

The fire—which spread quickly both upwards and between the blocks—was not completely extinguished by the end of the week, some 40 hours after it began, and required more than 2,000 fire service personnel to subdue.

On that day, authorities started accessing the buildings to gather evidence. Authorities say the inquiry could take several weeks.

Shortcomings Uncovered

Several residents have reported they did not hear a smoke detector when the fire started. The city's fire department determined that alarms in every tower were malfunctioning.

The city's construction authority has put on hold renovation projects on 30 private projects.

Calls for Inquiry and Arrests

Additionally, officers took into custody a 24-year-old man on charges related to sedition on the weekend. He was involved with a group demanding an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An digital signature drive amassed over 10,000 signatures in less than a day before its contents were wiped.

Two other people, among them a past council member, were also taken in by authorities, per press accounts.

International Reaction

The human rights organization and Human Rights Watch have both condemned the reported arrests.

"This is the occasion for the local government to thoroughly and publicly probe the origins of the catastrophic blaze...rather than muzzling those who ask legitimate questions," remarked the group.

Historical Context and Demographics

The residential complex was completed in 1983 and had offered close to 2,000 units for some 4,600 inhabitants, based on a population count.

Approximately 40 percent of its residents are believed to be over 65 years of age. Several have lived in the public housing complex since its construction.

The city's second-most fatal incident on in history killed 176 lives in 1948 and was caused by a blast on the lower level at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at a local racetrack in 1918, when more than 600 individuals lost their lives.