The city's leader, John Lee, has directed the formation of an separate inquiry panel to probe the origins of a devastating fire that claimed the lives of 151 residents.
A Blaze of Unprecedented Scale
Last Wednesday, seven of eight tower blocks at the estate—that was in the midst of significant upgrades—went up in flames. Authorities later discovered that safety scaffolding mesh installed on the buildings did not comply with fire safety regulations.
At least 13 individuals have been detained on suspicion of alleged culpable homicide, among them the directors of a contractor.
"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Changes are required. We have uncovered shortcomings in various phases. That is exactly why we must respond rigorously to ensure that all these gaps are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee.
The Probe and Its Consequences
The fire—advancing with speed both vertically and across the separate towers—was not completely extinguished by the morning of Friday, some 40 hours after it ignited, and took in excess of 2,000 fire service personnel to bring under control.
On that day, police began entering the buildings to gather evidence. The government indicates the investigation could take approximately a month.
Systemic Failures Identified
Multiple inhabitants have reported they did not hear a emergency siren when the fire started. The city's fire department discovered that alarms in all eight blocks were malfunctioning.
The city's construction authority has halted for now renovation projects on three dozen private developments.
Demands for Probe and Detentions
In a related development, police reportedly detained a individual on charges related to incitement on the weekend. He was part of a collective petitioning for an autonomous investigation into the tragedy. An online petition gathered in excess of 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.
Two other people, comprising a ex-local representative, were also detained by police, as reported by news outlets.
Global Response
The human rights organization and Another watchdog have both denounced the alleged detentions.
"The moment has come for the city's officials to openly examine the reasons of the tragic incident...rather than silencing those who ask legitimate questions," stated the organization.
Historical Context and Demographics
The housing estate was built in 1983 and had provided nearly two thousand flats for approximately 4,600 inhabitants, per a population count.
Almost four in ten of its residents are believed to be over 65 years of age. A number have lived in the subsidised housing estate since its construction.
The city's second-worst blaze on file killed 176 lives in 1948 and was caused by a detonation at street level at a multi-story storage facility. The worst was at a sporting venue in 1918, when over 600 individuals perished.
