Bangladesh:56 people died in a huge fire on chemical warehouses
Bangladesh:56 people died in a huge fire on chemical warehouses
Share:

Dhaka: On Thursday, a fire official informed that at least 56 people have died in a huge fire that tore through apartment buildings also used as chemical warehouses in an old part of the Bangladeshi capital,. Dozens of people were trapped in the buildings, unable to escape onto narrow streets clogged with traffic, as the highly-combustible stores of chemicals, body sprays and plastic granules erupted in flames. Bangladesh's fire service chief Ali Ahmed said the death toll was expected to rise

He said that “The number of bodies may increase. The search is still going on,". Ahmed said the blaze at Chawkbazar in the old part of Dhaka might have originated from a gas cylinder before quickly spreading through a building where chemicals were stored. The flames raced through four adjoining buildings, which were also used as chemical warehouses. While further describing a part of town where the streets are very narrow and the residential buildings stand inches apart he said "There was a traffic jam when the fire broke out. It spread so quickly that people could not escape,".

also read After five separatist leaders, J&K administration withdraw security of 18 more Hurriyat leaders

Witnesses said members of a bridal party in a nearby community centre were also caught in the fire and many of them were injured. Deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ibrahim Khan said at least two cars and 10 cycle rickshaws were burned in the fire. He said "The victims included passersby, some people who were eating food at a restaurant and some members of the bridal party,".

 

Another fire official told reporters the blaze, which began around 10.40pm (16:40 GMT) on Wednesday, has been "confined" but not yet doused despite the efforts of more than 200 firefighters. Television images showed firefighters climbing ladders to try to spray water on one of the buildings where the fire has largely been contained.

also read Daily Horoscope: Taureans, Today’s require extreme alertness and care on your part. Capricorns, today set far away from disputes

However, a police inspector at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital said at least 45 people were injured, including four people whose conditions were critical. Hundreds of people rushed to the hospital to look for their missing relatives. Sohag Hossain, one of the injured, told the Daily Star that he and two of his friends, were working at a plastic factory in one of the buildings at the time of the fire. Suddenly, they heard a huge noise. They tried to flee but could not escape the fire.

 

Join NewsTrack Whatsapp group
Related News