70 Dead In Apartment Fire In Bangladesh
DHAKA: At least 70 were killed in the huge blaze that raged through the apartment buildings in the old part of Dhaka. The apartments were used as chemical warehouses. Dozens of people were trapped inside the buildings. They could not escape as the streets were packed with heavy traffic. The warehouse had many combustible materials, chemicals, body sprays and plastic granules that extended the gravity of the flames. Fire control room official Mahfuz Riben said that 70 were dead already while Bangladesh fire service chief Ali Ahmed said that the numbers will rise again. He said, “The number of bodies may increase. The search is still going on. There was a traffic jam when
the fire broke out. It spread so quickly that people could not escape.” The blaze in Chawkbazar started with the explosion of gas cylinder and may have spread to the
apartment housing chemicals. The flames raged past 4 adjoining building which were also chemical warehouses.
Another fire official said that despite the efforts of 200 firefighter, the fire was not doused completely. The fire started around 10.40pm. He said, “It will take time. This is not like any other fire”. A bridal party nearby also caught fire and many of them were injured.
Deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Ibrahim Khan said that the fire damaged at least 2 cars and 10 cycle rickshaws. He added, “The victims included passersby, some people who were eating food at a restaurant and some members of the bridal party”. As per the initial estimations, at least 45 were injured including the 4 in critical condition.
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