Gazi Tyre factory fire brought under control after 22 hours

The devastating fire at the Gazi Tyre factory in Narayanganj's Rupganj continues to burn even 22 hours after the incident was first reported, according to Fire Service and Civil Defence.

The fire was brought under control at 7:05pm today (26 August), Lt Col Md Rezaul Karim, director (training, planning and improvement) of Fire Service and Civil Defence (FSCD) headquarters, told the media at a briefing in the evening, reports national daily media The Business Standard.

"It will take time to douse the fire. But we don't expect it to spread anymore. It took so long to control the fire as the factory had raw materials for the producing tyres, which are very flammable," Rezaul said.

The Fire Service director 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 added.

Rezaul Karim 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.

Meanwhile, the factory officials said that The factory was set on fire by looters, who had entered the factory around 9pm yesterday.