70 killed, 40 hurt in Dhaka apartment fire

Dhaka, Feb 21 (IANS) As many as 70 people, including women and children, were killed and 40 injured in a massive fire that tore through apartment buildings and chemical warehouses in the old part of Bangladesh capital Dhaka, officials said.

"At least 70 people have died in the incident," said the Bangladesh capital's fire service spokesman Kamrul Hasan.

"We will know the exact number of victims only after searching the whole building," said fire brigade Director Lieutenant Colonel Zulfikar.

The blaze broke out Wednesday at 10.30 p.m. in the Chawkbazar area, a district in old Dhaka with narrow streets and densely-packed buildings, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

The firefighters battled the blaze throughout the night, which is believed to have been triggered by a fuel cylinder explosion stored in a car, reports say.

The fire was brought under control around 8 a.m., Efe news reported, citing fire service officials.

Mahfuz Riven, a duty officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, told Xinhua news agency after the explosion the fire spread to a chemical warehouse on the ground floor of the five-storey building and tore through a row of crowded buildings.

According to an eyewitness, Nurul Islam, the building had a plastic granule shop on the ground floor and a warehouse of perfume bottles on the first and part of the second floor, while the other floors were residential apartments.

The fire also damaged two other buildings, which, the police fear could collapse any time.

Earlier reports said the fire was caused by a transformer blast.

Mohammad Selim, a factory worker in Old Dhaka, told Efe news he was walking home through the narrow street when the incident occurred. "When I was crossing the street in front of the building I heard explosions. Some fireballs hit me on my back. I saw fire engulf a woman and a girl and their rickshaw puller," he said.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan said a probe was underway. "We have ordered an investigation. Hopefully you will see the result soon."

Authorities began the process of identifying victims as relatives waited at the Dhaka College Hospital for news of their loved ones.

The government said 100,000 Bangladeshi taka (approximately $1,190) would be provided as financial aid to the families of the victims, and 50,000 taka for those injured.

The fire reminded many Old Dhaka residents of the Nimtoli fire tragedy, which occurred barely one kilometre from the spot on June 3, 2010 and killed as many as 124 people.

In the past nine years, there has been little progress to address the issues that led to the Nimtoli fire, or many smaller subsequent fires, local media reports added.