Fire kills at least 45 in Bangladesh capital of Dhaka after restaurant blaze spreads through entire building
- Dozens more were injured and are in hospital after a blaze started in a popular biryani restaurant in Dhaka and spread to the building’s upper floors
- Firefighters brought the blaze under control in 2 hours and rescued 75 people
Bangladesh firefighters said on Friday that glaring safety lapses were responsible for a Dhaka restaurant blaze that killed at least 45 people, with more deaths likely among those rushed to hospital in critical condition.
Thursday night’s fire began at a popular biryani restaurant at the bottom of a seven-floor commercial property in the capital’s upscale Bailey Road neighbourhood.
The entire building, home to several other eateries, was soon engulfed by flames that took fire crews two hours to bring under control.
Fire service operations director Rezaul Karim said the blaze had been made worse by numerous cooking gas cylinders stored haphazardly in stairwells and restaurant kitchens.
“People heard the explosions of several gas cylinders during the fire,” he said.
Main Uddin, the national fire services chief, said the building lacked safety measures.
