Fire devastates Korail slum in Dhaka, Thousands Displaced

A massive fire tore through Dhaka’s Korail slum, Bangladesh’s largest informal settlement home to nearly 80,000 residents, destroying rows of tin-roofed shanties and leaving thousands homeless. The blaze spread rapidly due to congested structures and faulty wiring, with several injuries reported and families losing all their belongings.

Firefighting units struggled to reach the heart of the slum due to its congested layout and maze-like alleys. It took several hours and dozens of responders to bring the fire under control. Although there have been no confirmed deaths, officials reported that several people suffered minor injuries, and many families lost all their belongings in the flames. Rescue workers are still searching through the remnants, and authorities have not ruled out the possibility of further casualty reports.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire may have been triggered either by faulty electrical wiring or a gas cylinder explosion, both common hazards in informal settlements. However, officials have launched a full inquiry to determine the exact cause.

Witnesses described scenes of panic as residents rushed to escape the rapidly spreading flames, carrying children, documents, and whatever essentials they could grab. Many watched helplessly as their homes and livelihoods vanished within minutes.

The fire has once again shed light on the vulnerability of slum communities in Dhaka, where overcrowding, unsafe construction, and lack of emergency access make such disasters especially devastating.