Gazi Tyre factory: Firefighters say no victims found inside basement

Fire Service and Civil Defence personnel entered the basement of the recently torched six-storey building of Gazi Tyres factory today but found “no victims” inside.
Abdul Mannan, deputy assistant director of Narayanganj fire service told media today.
“We had information that there was a basement inside the building. A team of ours entered the basement around noon to check whether anyone was trapped there,” he said.
During the visit, the firefighters noticed that a small fire was also burning at some places inside the basement.
After visiting the building, Rakib Ahsan, a professor of civil engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), said it would be “very risky” to carry out rescue operations there.
The Buet teacher visited the building following an invitation from Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mahmudul Hoque.
Prof Raquib said the fire mostly burnt the upper parts of the factory and caused more damage there than the lower floors.
If the rescue attempt is started from the ground floor, there is a risk of the building collapsing, he added.
He said he visited the factory in person by climbing fire service ladder from all corners and also analysed footage and photographs taken by drone camera.
Third and fourth floors of the building caved in on the second floor. Besides, cracks are visible on the columns, he further said.
The factory was set on fire by miscreants on Sunday night. After the incident, several families alleged their dear ones were trapped inside the factory.