Dhaka (AFP)
At least 10,000 people lost their homes in a huge fire that hit a slum in Dhaka, where thousands of homes were destroyed, authorities said on Sunday.
The fire broke out in the Mirpur district on Friday night and devastated 2,000 homes, AFP spokesman Ershad Hossain told AFP.
"I have not been able to save anything, I do not know what I will become," said AFP in tears to Abdul Hamid, who ran a small stall selling tea in the slum.
The firefighters finally managed to take control of the fire, which did not kill anyone, according to the authorities. There are a few minor injuries.
The slum is populated by many employees of the textile industry. Many of its inhabitants were absent because they went to celebrate with the family the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha.
"Otherwise, the record would have been more serious," said Golam Rabbani, senior official of the local police.
About 10,000 homeless people fled wherever they could, including in closed schools due to school holidays, according to Hossain.
Fires are relatively common in Bangladeshi slums because of the lack of regulation in buildings.
© 2019 AFP