AMN / DHAKA
At least 19 people were killed and over 70 others injured in a fire that broke out in a 22-storey commercial building in Dhaka’s Banani area today.
Fire officials said the blaze erupted on the eighth floor of the building and gradually went upward engulfing other floors. It is not clear yet what sparked the fire.
Local media reported that the blaze has been brought under control.
Officials said, nineteen fire-fighting units, Bangladesh Air Force helicopters and Navy commandos teamed together to douse the fire.
“Until now the death toll stands at 19,” Fire Services Deputy Director Dilip Kumar Ghosh told a news briefing accompanied by fellow fire service DD Shamim Ahsan Chowdhury at the scene.
He said search campaign was underway inside the buildings. A 5-member committee, led by Fire Service Deputy Director Debashis Bardhan, was formed to probe the fire incident. The committee has been asked to submit report within seven working days.
Police and hospital sources initially confirmed seven deaths including that of a Sri Lankan national a military official later said they found at least three people who died after being trapped in a lift which was stuck in the 15th floor of the 22-storey FR Tower, where the blaze originated at around 12.55 PM. Fire service officials said they could not confirmed the identities of other three deceased.
Officials and witnesses said three of the victims died after jumping from the blazing while most others appeared to have died from the blaze effects.
Fire service officials could not immediately comment what sparked the blaze which quickly spread to two adjacent high-rise buildings while all the three structures housed offices and commercial entities including restaurants and a private TV channel.
Over 70 people are being treated at different government and private health facilities, some of them with critical wounds.
“The fire is now extinguished,” fire service official told newsmen at the scene as it took 21 fire fighting units over five hours to douse the inferno.
Five military and air force helicopters were deployed to drop water on the blaze as flames and thick black smoke poured out of the windows and air lift trapped people while navy commandos extended their hands to the fire service rescuers.
Several people trapped inside were seen waving frantically from the building’s windows and roof and shouting for help from windows on the upper floors of the building.
Passersby stood watching and praying below as heavy smoke deterred rescuers efforts to get close to them.
Witnesses said three people attempting to escape by climbing out of the eighth floor soon after the fire began but one fell and declared dead later.