Jacob Brown
At least 43 individuals lost their lives in a tragic fire that engulfed a multi-story building in Bangladesh, as confirmed by the country’s health minister.
The blaze erupted in a restaurant in Dhaka’s capital city, led to a massive rescue operation, and left dozens hospitalized.
Incident Details:
The fire reportedly started in a restaurant within the building around 10:00 PM local time on Thursday.
Despite efforts to contain it, the flames spread rapidly, engulfing the structure in hours. Seventy-five individuals were rescued from the scene, but many sustained injuries requiring medical attention.
Casualty Count and Rescue Efforts:
Health Minister Samanta Lal Sen disclosed that at least 33 fatalities occurred at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, including women and children.
Additionally, ten individuals succumbed to their injuries at the main burns hospital in the city. Twenty-two individuals remain in critical condition, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Building Characteristics and Potential Causes:
The building housing the Kacchi Bhai restaurant, where the fire originated, is reported to have seven floors. Preliminary investigations suggest that a gas leak or stove malfunction may have triggered the blaze.
Brigadier General Main Uddin of the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence emphasized the hazardous nature of the building, with gas cylinders on multiple floors, including staircases.
Eyewitness Accounts:
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as people rushed to escape the engulfed building.
Sohel, a restaurant manager, recounted using a water pipe to descend from the structure, while others resorted to jumping from upper floors, resulting in injuries.
Mohammad Altaf, a survivor, narrowly escaped through a broken window, witnessing the tragic loss of colleagues who had assisted in rescue efforts.
Root Causes and Safety Concerns:
Fires in commercial and residential structures are distressingly common in Bangladesh, often attributed to inadequate safety measures and lax enforcement of regulations.
The incident underscores the critical need for enhanced safety awareness and stricter enforcement to prevent future tragedies of this nature.
