More than three dozen dead, 100 injured after fire tears through crowded ferry in Bangladesh

A occurrence tore done a crowded ferry successful confederate Bangladesh aboriginal Friday, leaving much than 3 twelve radical dormant and much than 100 injured — the latest successful a enactment of maritime calamities successful a state reliant connected question by rickety vessels, agelong plagued by overcrowding and different information issues.

The flames sent terrified passengers leaping into the water. Dozens of people, including children, stay unaccounted for, officials told reporters. The blaze, which burned for much than 3 hours, dispersed arsenic galore aboard were asleep.

Authorities expect the casualty number to emergence arsenic search-and-rescue efforts proceed and fixed the severity of immoderate injuries. Around 100 radical were hospitalized with burns, according to section officials.

“We were sleeping connected a mat connected the crushed level deck,” an aged pistillate aboard the ferry told Agence France-Presse. “My 9-year-old grandson, Nayeem, was with me, helium jumped into the river. I don’t cognize what happened to him.”

Many of Bangladesh’s immoderate 165 cardinal radical usage stream boats arsenic an affordable means to commute and travel. But experts say the assemblage is notoriously underregulated, with information measures poorly enforced and overcrowded and defective boats operating without punishment.

Golam Sadek, caput of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, told AFP that the vessel was constructed successful 2019 and cleared for usage done 2022. The ferry had a licence to transportation a maximum of 420 people, though survivors and officials estimated that betwixt 500 and 700 radical were aboard erstwhile the occurrence broke out, according to AFP.

The ferry near Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital, connected Thursday and was traveling on the Sugandha stream adjacent the municipality of Jhalakathi erstwhile the blaze overtook the three-decker boat. Local officials said they deliberation the occurrence started successful the motor room, the BBC reported.

Anguished passengers recalled making heartbreaking, split-second decisions amid the chaos.

Mohammad Ismail, 48, told AFP that helium threw his parent into the acold stream and dragged her ashore. But helium could not find his woman and girl erstwhile helium returned to the ferry to hunt for them.

Another pistillate told the quality bureau that she gave her 6-month-old nephew to a antheral arsenic the flames dispersed and she tried to assistance different household members. The babe has not been seen since.

Fire and ferry tragedies are communal successful Bangladesh, contempt pledges by authorities to amended regulations.

In August, at slightest 22 people died erstwhile a vessel carrying much than a 100 passengers collided with a cargo vas successful eastbound Bangladesh.