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Authorities in Hong Kong have detained 13 individuals on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter related to last week’s catastrophic blaze, amidst growing criticism over the arrests of citizens demanding accountability.

Search Continues as Death Toll Rises

Rescue teams persisted in combing through the seven-building complex of the Wang Fuk Court estate in the Tai Po district on the start of the week, following the city’s deadliest fire in 75 years. The death toll reached 151 and is anticipated to climb further as the search goes on. About forty people are currently missing.

Construction Work Connected with Fire’s Cause

The estate, home to almost 5,000 people, had been in the midst of major refurbishment that have been associated with the origin of the blaze. In the aftermath, public fury has escalated over reported previous safety breaches by the construction company working at the site and poor oversight of safety codes, spurred on by disclosures that residents had been voicing concerns over the work for a year.

Those Detained Include Corporate Executives

On the afternoon of Monday, authorities said the anti-graft agency had detained thirteen people over the tragedy so far, including the executives and an technical advisor of a construction company, and had “immediately begun comprehensive investigation along the lines of manslaughter”.

Substandard Materials Revealed

A senior official stated that 7 of twenty tested samples of the scaffolding net used around the towers did not meet fire-retardant standards. Preliminary checks had found materials were compliant, but the official said the cheaper, noncompliant material had been installed in areas hard to reach in order to evade detection, labeling it a “deplorable deed”.

“Their sole aim was to make money at the cost of human lives,” he said.

Citizens Arrested Amid Demands for Answers

As accusations of safety violations mount, alongside revelations that official bodies had issued several apparently unenforced warnings, residents have questioned why no government figures have yet faced consequences. Instead, two members of the public were allegedly arrested by security forces.

A person, identified as a local student, was arrested over an internet appeal that made “four requests” for assured assistance for the victims and accountability for those at to blame, including any corrupt or culpable government officials.

Reports said the individual was arrested for “seditious intention”. Law enforcement did not verify the detention, saying only that they “will take actions according to actual circumstances and in accordance with the legal framework”.

Local media also reported the detention of a former district councillor.

Official Response on Arrests

Questioned about the arrests, the secretary of security said there had been “inaccurate comments online” that were intended to threaten national security. “As a result, we must take necessary steps, including law enforcement measures,” the official told a media briefing. “Operational details cannot be disclosed as they concern state security.”

Social Media Response and Comparisons Made

On Hong Kong social media, people criticised the detention of citizens. “National security must be given precedence even if the victims are still trapped in the structure,” said one.

Some commenters drew comparisons to the Chinese mainland. “The mainland, such acts are termed ‘picking quarrels and provoking trouble’,” said a user. “It’s usually met with severe penalties. Stability trumps everything.”

A different user said: “Since we are following mainland China’s methods, by dealing with the person who raises the question, nobody will dare to ask, and thus Hong Kong’s governance will have no problems.”

Heightened Sensitivity and Community Response

The arrests came after advisories by national security authorities that they would take action against anyone deemed to be exploiting the tragedy to stir up “hostile” feelings.

Before the detentions, authorities had already begun showing increased vigilance to the public reaction. Since the suppression of earlier unrest, civilian gatherings have been strictly regulated. In the immediate aftermath, community volunteers quickly organized aid operations, with hundreds of people using vehicles and public transport to bring in mountains of garments, supplies and other essentials for the victims.

However, by evening, armed police were monitoring the area, and public authorities eventually assumed control from the community coordinators.

The petition over which the student was reportedly arrested was launched late on Friday. Its “four demands” mirrored the terminology of past protest movements but did not call for political change.

The student told reporters that he was only “proposing fundamental requests”.

“Should these suggestions are deemed subversive or ‘crossing the line’, then I feel I cannot foresee the outcomes of anything any more, and I can only do what I truly believe is right,” he stated.