A massive fire tore through Korail, one of Dhaka’s largest slums, on Tuesday evening, leaving thousands of residents homeless and reducing rows of tin-roofed shanties to charred rubble, officials said.
The blaze erupted shortly after sunset in the heart of the capital. Korail, home to nearly 80,000 people, is wedged between the affluent Gulshan and Banani neighbourhoods and flanked by clusters of upscale apartment towers. Residents fled with whatever belongings they could carry as orange flames lit up the night sky and thick smoke blanketed the area.
At least 19 fire engines were deployed to tackle the inferno, according to Fire Service official Talha Bin Zasim. “Heavy traffic slowed our arrival, and once inside, the narrow lanes forced us to leave the engines at a distance,” he said. Firefighters dragged long hoses through cramped alleys and battled for more than five hours before bringing the flames under control.
The cause of the fire remains unknown. There were no immediate reports of casualties, though residents described the destruction as near total. “Everything I had is gone. How will I survive now?” said Amena Begum, tears rolling down her cheeks as she surveyed the charred remains of her home.
Lax regulations and poor enforcement have often been blamed for large fires in Bangladesh, which in recent years have killed hundreds of people in similar incidents. Authorities have yet to announce relief measures for the displaced residents of Korail.
Melissa Enoch
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