At least 10 people have been killed in a fire that broke out at a fan factory in Gazipur’s Baria Union.
The incident was reported around 5pm on Sunday (Dec 15), confirmed Fire Service Dhaka duty officer Lima Khanam.
The rescuers found the bodies after four units of the fire service brought the fire under control around 7:30pm, Gazipur Fire Service Station Officer Md Zakaria Khan told the media.
Zakaria said the workers were trapped inside after the fire originated near the gate. It appeared that they were suffocated, according to the fire service official.
Several people were injured, Zakaria said but could not confirm how many. There were 19 workers in the factory when the fire erupted on the third floor of the three-storey factory building.
Jaydebpur police OC Jabedul Islam said that that the entire three-storied factory has been entirely gutted.
“Firefighters are still searching inside,” he said before adding that there might be more casualties.
The authorities were yet to the find out the cause of the fire and assess the extent of damage.
The incident comes three days after a plastic factory fire in Keraniganj. The fire that broke out on Dec 11 has claimed 19 lives so far.
Gazipur Deputy Commissioner SM Tarikul Islam and Superintendent of Police Shamsunnahar visited the site.
The district administration has formed a committee of five, headed by Additional District Magistrate Shahinur Islam, to investigate the incident, said Tarikul. The panel has been given 10 working days to report.
Tarikul also said the families of the 10 victims would be given Tk 25,000 for funeral.