Ctg EPZ factory inferno rages over 6 hours; walls collapsed
Staff Reporter :
A massive fire that erupted at a garment factory warehouse in a seven-storey building inside the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (EPZ) on Thursday afternoon continued to rage through the entire structure till 9pm, while this report was being filed – despite more than six hours of relentless firefighting efforts.
Earlier a day, a massive fire in capital’s Mirpur claimed atleast 16 lives.
“The entire building has been engulfed in flames. There’s nothing we can do until the structure collapses or the fire burns itself out.
The building could give way at any moment,” said Shahidur Rahman, fire consultant of the Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (BEPZA) in Chattogram.
Jasim Uddin, deputy director of Chattogram Fire Service and Civil Defence, told journalists, “The fire spread rapidly because of the highly flammable materials stored inside.
Firefighters are struggling to bring it under control. Although we are using modern equipment and doing everything possible, low water pressure is making the operation extremely difficult.”
Anwar Hossen, assistant director of the Fire Service, added, “The blaze is now completely uncontrollable. Due to the intense heat, several floors have already seen windows and walls collapse.
The chemicals stored inside are fuelling the flames further. We are spraying water on nearby buildings to prevent the fire from spreading.”
According to EPZ officials and factory workers, the fire originated around noon in the warehouse of Adams Caps, located on the seventh floor of the building.
The premises also house Jeihong Medical Company Ltd, a Chinese-owned factory operating on the fifth floor.
The sixth and seventh floors were used as storage and warehouse space for both factories.
Rifat Hasan, financial manager of Adams Caps, told journalists, “The fire started shortly after lunch, around 2pm. Our cutting and sewing sections are on the third and fourth floors.
As soon as the fire broke out, we safely evacuated all workers. The blaze began in the storage area where raw materials and fabrics were kept.”
“We had just received a new order a few days ago, and the fabrics and raw materials were stocked in the warehouse. Everything has now turned to ashes,” he lamented.
Yasin, a sewing operator at Jeihong Medical, said, “After lunch, one of my co-workers mentioned a burning smell on the third floor.
We followed the smell upstairs and, upon reaching the seventh floor, saw thick black smoke and flames. We immediately ran downstairs, warning others to evacuate.”
“While rushing down the stairs, several female workers stumbled and got injured. They were later taken to the BEPZA medical centre,” he added.
Fahimul Mahmud Bhuiyan, a supervisor at Jeihong, said, “Within seconds, the power went off, and everyone rushed out of the building.”
When our correspondent visited the scene, workers from neighbouring factories had gathered near the burning structure, causing heavy crowding.
Later, members of the army and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrived and dispersed the onlookers. Naval units were also seen delivering water to assist the firefighting operation.