DHAKA, Feb. 21 (Xinhua) -- Public hospitals in Bangladesh capital Dhaka were overwhelmed with pouring victims on Thursday morning as a devastating fire that ripped through a number of buildings on Wednesday night in old part of the city killed at least 70 people.
Mahfuz Riven, a duty officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, told Xinhua that the fire, triggered by an explosion of a gas cylinder, quickly spread into a chemical warehouse on the ground floor of a five-storey building, and tore through a row of crowded buildings in the city's Chawkbazar area in a grim reminder of the fatal 2010 fire in the country.
"The fire that originated at about 11:00 p.m. local time Wednesday following explosion of the cylinder killed 70 people," he said.
Hundreds of firefighters rushed to the spot on receipt of information and brought the fire under control after four hours of relentless efforts.
Abdur Rahim, one eye-witness, told Xinhua on site Thursday morning that the fire broke out and spread to the entire area within five minutes after the explosion, keeping no scope for many to escape for safe place.
"I can't tell you what a horrendous situation it was then in Chawkbazar area," he said.
Ali Ahmed, director general of Fire Service and Civil Defense, said the flames quickly spread through three other buildings nearby, including a community centre.
The building, where the fire originated, housed some shops on the ground floor and families on the other floors.
Also the first floor was being used as a warehouse of plastic goods, cosmetics and perfume.
Moin Uddin, a resident of the area said they rushed to the scene but could not proceed much due to severity of blaze spreading fast.
According to the officials, thirty-seven units of firefighters brought the fire under control at around 3:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, but they have still been working to extinguish the burning materials completely.
The death toll is feared to rise as rescue operation has not finished till filing of this report Thursday.
At least 50 injured people were rushed to different hospitals in the city and bodies to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue.
Doctors in the hospitals stated condition of several of the injured as very much critical.
Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina have expressed their deep condolences for the dead.
PM Hasina has also ordered authorities of all government hospitals for proper measures for the treatment of those injured.
A committee has already been formed to investigate the exact cause of the devastating fire incident.
In Bangladesh, poorly constructed buildings have long been the source of successive accidents, resulting in the death of hundreds.
This has been the second deadly disaster to strike the capital in eight years after another fire in old Dhaka that ripped about six buildings, claiming at least 124 lives.
