Massive fire in Dhaka, people seen jumping out of burning tower, air force joins rescue op

A massive fire broke out in a 19-storey building in Bangladesh capital Dhaka, latest foreign media reports on Thursday. According to Al Jazeera, several people were feared trapped inside the skyscrapper. The Al Jazeera report says that the blaze started in Dhaka’s FR Tower. "Nineteen fire-fighting units are working at the scene. Bangladesh navy and air force have also joined to fight the fire," Duty Officer Mohammad Russel was quoted as saying by Al Jazeera.

 

A #terrible and #devastating #fire has broken out in #Banani, #FRTower, multiple #casualties suspected, with people jumping off from the building to save themselves. #prayers for the poor souls. Warning #graphicvideo pic.twitter.com/xlNkoelh7n

— Tahsin Mahmood (@tahsinzone) March 28, 2019

According to the New York Times, there were people seen falling from the burning tower. Twitter user Tahsin Mahmood shared the gruesome video showing trapped individuals jumping out of the building. News Nation warns readers to watch the graphic content on their own discretion. 

Dhaka Tribune reports that the fire broke out just before 1 pm at FR Tower’s ninth floor in the Banani area. Reports of the massive blaze comes weeks after a fire that killed 70 people.

The #Bangladesh #armedforces have joined in the #rescue effort, with the #AirForce using their #helicopters to drowse the #fire. #bananifire #FRTower #Banani pic.twitter.com/4yh1E686SP

— Tahsin Mahmood (@tahsinzone) March 28, 2019

 

Many are raising concerns over authorities’ preparedness. Bangladesh had begun cracking down on chemical warehouses in an historic Dhaka district a week after a fire killed 70 people in buildings used for deodorant and plastics storage. Five task forces led by military officers, police and officials had raided Old Dhaka buildings and cut off utilities to at least 50 buildings in the past three days after chemical warehouses were found in their basement and under floors.

The owners of the buildings were ordered to relocate the flammable chemicals to safer places outside the capital as part of the initiative.

The crackdown was in response to a massive fire which broke out on February 21 at Chawkbazar, a 300-year-old historic Old Dhaka district, killing at least 70 people and injuring another 50.

The disaster recalled a June 2010 fire in the nearby neighbourhood of Nimtoli in which 123 people were killed. Again a blaze ripped through residential buildings that doubled as chemical warehouses.