A massive fire that broke out in the Karail slum adjacent to Mohakhali in the capital on Tuesday afternoon was not brought under control till nightfall. 19 units of the fire service are working at the scene after the fire broke out at 5:22 pm.
Fire Service Duty Officer Rashed Bin Khalid said that the fire spread quickly as the houses in the slum were made of tin, bamboo, wood and iron. Many houses from the first to the third floor were engulfed in flames in an instant. The electricity supply to the entire area was cut off immediately after the fire broke out.
Most of the residents of Karail are garment workers, rickshaw pullers, hawkers or daily wage laborers. Many were out at work when the fire broke out, so they did not get a chance to save their homes. In the evening, it was seen that along with the fire service, locals were also trying to put out the fire by bringing water from the water tank and canal.
The source of the fire or the extent of the damage could not be confirmed until nightfall.