Major earthquake can be catastrophic for BD: Fire Service DG
Staff Reporter :
If there is a big earthquake in Bangladesh like Turkey and Syria, there is a big threat of loss of life due to the gas, electricity and Sewerage lines under the ground, said Director General (DG) of Fire Service and Civil Defense Brigadier General Mohammad Sajjad Hossain.
He said, earthquake tremors can cause major damage by catching fire in underground gas lines. In this case, rescue operations will also become difficult. He said these things at a press conference organized at the Fire Service Headquarters on Wednesday.
The DG said that a major earthquake may occur in Dhaka city. We are working with that very mindfully. We have purchased state-of-the-art equipment and training our manpower. Besides, those who will work with us are also being trained.
He said, unplanned urbanization is a risk for us. We will have trained manpower and equipment, but how will we reach some of narrow and zigzag places like Old Dhaka in case of an earthquake?
Brigadier General Sajjad Hossain also said, “We have underground gas and electricity systems and of Sewerage lines. What will happen to these when there is an earthquake! In the event of an earthquake, the service systems will be the threat to our lives. For this, there should be a gas auto valve system, so that the gas connection is automatically shut off in the event of an earthquake. This will not cause fire. However, we need to be more aware on this issue.
In the press conference, he also said that a rescue team of 60 people including
12 members of Fire Service and Civil Defense is being sent from Bangladesh to join the rescue work in Turkey earthquake. It will have 24 people, 10 doctors and 14 crew members of Bangladesh Army.
Fire Service DG also said that a rescue team of 60 people, including 12 from the fire service, will travel to Turkey by C-130 plane to rescue in the earthquake areas in Turkey in the seven-day target. “Sophisticated devices are being sent for rescue, which are used in the developed world,” he added.
