A devastating fire in a multi-storey building in Bangladesh has claimed the lives of at least 43 people, as reported by the country’s health minister. The blaze reportedly originated in a restaurant around 22:00 local time (16:00 GMT) on Thursday in the capital, Dhaka.
Local media indicates that the fire rapidly engulfed the building, leading to the tragic demise of dozens of individuals who were trapped inside. Fire officials later managed to bring the blaze under control, and investigations into its cause are underway.
Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen revealed that at least 33 people, including women and children, were declared dead at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital. An additional 10 victims succumbed to their injuries at the city’s main burns hospital. Numerous individuals have been sent to hospitals for treatment, highlighting the severity of the incident.
The emergency response was initiated at the Kacchi Bhai restaurant, situated in a building with seven floors, according to reports from the Daily Bangladesh newspaper. The complex also houses other restaurants, clothing stores, and mobile phone shops.
Survivors shared harrowing accounts of the incident, with one restaurant manager named Sohel describing the moment when smoke rapidly filled the staircase on the sixth floor. Many people rushed upstairs, and some resorted to using a water pipe to climb down the building. In the chaos, injuries occurred, and some individuals jumped from upper floors to escape the flames.
Mohammad Altaf, another survivor, narrowly escaped the blaze through a broken window. Sadly, two colleagues who assisted in rescuing people lost their lives.
Fires in commercial and residential buildings are regrettably common in Bangladesh, often attributed to poor safety awareness and inadequate enforcement of regulations. The incident underscores the urgent need for enhanced safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Source: BBC
