Fire guts oldest part of Bangladeshi capital, killing dozens
Fire and explosions that ripped through apartment buildings packed with illegal chemical stores killed at least 67 people in the Bangladeshi capital which was left stunned by its latest disaster. The inferno started in a building where chemicals for deodorants and other household uses were stocked amid apartments. It spread at lightning speed to four nearby blocks, the fire service said. Chemical fireballs set ablaze the clogged narrow streets even engulfing passengers on rickshaws in flames. Witnesses told of harrowing scenes as people became trapped by flames at a bridal party and in restaurants.
- World
- AP
- Published Date: 06:21 | 21 February 2019
- Modified Date: 07:38 | 21 February 2019
The district dating to the Mughal era is crammed with buildings separated by narrow alleys, with residences commonly above shops, restaurants or warehouses on the ground floors. Denizens of the Muslim-majority nation throng to Chawkbazar each year for traditional goods to celebrate iftar, when the daily fast is broken during Ramadan.
"I was talking to a customer, suddenly he shouted at me, 'Fire! Fire!'" said Javed Hossain, a survivor who came to assess the damage to his grocery store Thursday afternoon. "I said 'Oh, Allah,' in a fraction of a second the fire caught my shop."
Hossain's brother took his hand and they leaped onto the street before the shop was engulfed in flames.
Outside the gutted store, the road was strewn with charred vehicles, pieces of still-burning metal and plastics and hundreds of cans of body deodorant.
The blaze started late Wednesday night in one building and quickly spread to others, fire department Director General Brig. Gen. Ali Ahmed said.