The city's leader, John Lee, has mandated the establishment of an independent committee to probe the origins of a tragic inferno that killed at least 151 individuals.
This past Wednesday, seven of eight apartment buildings at the estate—which had been undergoing major refurbishment—were engulfed by fire. A probe subsequently revealed that protective netting installed on the buildings did not comply with requirements for fire resistance.
At least 13 people have been arrested for potential negligent homicide, including the executives of a contractor.
"This is indeed a tragedy, the fire was immense. Reform is necessary. Failures have been detected in various phases. Hence we must respond rigorously to guarantee all these gaps are plucked," remarked Mr. Lee.
The blaze—that propagated rapidly both vertically and between the blocks—was finally put out by Friday morning, approximately two days after it started, and required in excess of 2,000 firefighters to subdue.
On that day, officers commenced entry into the buildings to collect forensic material. The government indicates the probe could take three to four weeks.
Several residents have reported they did not hear a emergency siren when the fire started. The city's fire department determined that detection devices in all eight blocks were operating inadequately.
The relevant regulatory body has put on hold construction activities on 30 private projects.
In a related development, officers took into custody a young man on allegations of sedition on the weekend. He was involved with a gathering demanding an independent inquiry into the tragedy. An digital signature drive collected over 10,000 signatures in under 24 hours before its page was taken down.
Two other people, comprising a ex-local representative, were also questioned by police, according to local media reports.
The rights group and Another watchdog have both condemned the alleged detentions.
"This is the occasion for the local government to openly examine the reasons of the tragic incident...rather than suppressing those who raise appropriate concerns," remarked the group.
The residential complex was constructed in 1983 and had provided nearly two thousand flats for around 4,600 residents, according to a recent official survey.
Approximately 40 percent of its occupants are believed to be over 65 years of age. Several have resided in the government-supported development since its construction.
The city's second-most fatal incident on in history killed 176 individuals in 1948 and was triggered by a ground-floor explosion at a multi-story storage facility. The most deadly was at a sporting venue in 1918, when over 600 people lost their lives.
A seasoned casino analyst with over a decade of experience in gaming strategies and industry trends.
