DHAKA: At least 43 people were killed and several injured when a fire engulfed a seven-storey building in an upmarket district of Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, on Thursday.
The fire started in the popular restaurant before quickly spreading to the upper floors of the building.
Fire officials confirmed that the fire broke out at approximately 9:50 p.m. local time and trapped various people in the building. It took more than two hours to bring the fire under control. Almost 75 people were rescued from the burning building.
The country’s health authorities said more than 43 people had lost their lives as a result. 40 other people were injured and are currently being treated at the city’s main burn hospital. Injuries ranged in severity from burns to smoke inhalation.
Eyewitness accounts revealed that many people were trying to escape the flames, with some resorting to jumping from upper floors to escape the flames. Several individuals remained trapped on the roof and pleaded for help as the fire raged below.
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The building contained restaurants along with other businesses such as clothing and cell phone stores. As the fire quickly spread through the structure, panic and chaos broke out among the people trapped inside.
Fires in apartment buildings and factory complexes are common in Bangladesh due to lax enforcement of safety regulations. In July 2021, a fire broke out in a food processing factory, claiming several lives.
The current financial loss is unknown. Meanwhile, Bangladeshi authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire.
