Gazi Tyre factory stored 25 tonnes of sulphur causing fire to take deadly turn: UNO
It might take another 12 hours or more to extinguish completely, fire service said
The Gazi Tyre factory in Narayanganj's Rupganj stored over 25 tonnes of sulphur, thus causing the fire to take a terrible turn, UNO Md Ahsan Mahmud Russell said.
"The fire cannot be extinguished due to the high content of the substance," Russell, also the district executive magistrate, told TBS late Monday.
No official could confirm how long it might take to put out the fire. However, a fire service official said it might take another 12 hours or more to extinguish the fire completely.
The fire service official also said it is not possible to carry out any rescue operations until the fire is completely extinguished.
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The UNO also said the fire has been burning for almost 24 hours now causing the building to become risky and vulnerable.
"Its plasters are falling off. The building may collapse at any time. Then the situation would become more difficult. Extra precautions are being taken for this."
Asked about the alleged missing persons, the UNO said, "I don't know anything about anyone gone missing. Nothing can be said about that right now."
The UNO also said the Army, BGB and police were working together to provide security in the entire area occupied by the factory.
Families of the missing individuals gathered outside the burned factory this afternoon. The families have noted that they have lost contact with their loved ones, whose phones have been unreachable since the night of the incident.
Another fire service said they noted down the names, addresses and mobile numbers of some of the family members of the missing who turned up. But that number would not be more than 15 to 20 people. After putting out the fire, through rescue operations, the situation can be understood.
Earlier on the day, the Fire Service director, however, said the factory building is very hazardous now. "We have seen plasters and walls falling down. We request all to maintain distance from the building or there could be more casualties."
He also said the Fire Service did not make any list of individuals who have died or gone missing in the incident.
"Our main target is dousing the fire. We will know if anyone has died or not after we enter the building. We will conduct rescue operations to recover the bodies of any deceased. But we have not made a list. I don't know where you [journalists] got it. You can ask those who have reported on it," he added.
Various media outlets, including The Business Standard, earlier reported that at least 173 people are feared to have gone missing in the fire, citing a list by the Fire Service prepared at the request of family members of those feared missing.
In a statement issued later on the day, the Fire Service and Civil Defence said the agency had not prepared any list of the dead or the missing in the fire as reported by some media outlets, including The Business Standard.
"A couple of media outlets have published information that the fire service is listing the dead in the Gazi Tyre factory fire. This is not correct. The fire service is not listing the dead or the missing. I request you not to serve such news," reads the statement sent to media by the fire service's media cell.
"A few local people have given us their numbers asking us to inform them if any victims are found," the statement also said.
Later in the evening, the agency issued a press statement saying that they have not made an official list of the dead or the missing and called on media outlets not to publish such information.
Factory authorities claim that none of the missing individuals were workers, suggesting they might have entered the premises during a looting incident or for other purposes.
At night, many family members were seen standing in front of the factory looking for their relatives who were feared to be trapped inside.
Johnny, 25, went missing the day before. His mother and sister Moni were looking for him. Moni said Johny and a few of his friends went to the spot yesterday at 10pm to see the fire. They went to the top of the burning building. Since then, there has been no trace of them.
Khairun Nessa said her son Amirul, 18, has been missing since 9pm yesterday.
An official of the factory said no employee of Gazi Tyre was trapped.
"We have 1,700 to 2,000 workers here every day. We don't have any staff stuck inside or gone missing. The entire factory has been closed since 5 August."
