Mirpur factory fire: ‘Immediately lethal’ toxic gas found in warehouse
Toxic hydrogen sulphide gas at "immediately lethal" levels was detected in the burnt Mirpur Shialbari chemical warehouse on Friday, as smoke continued to billow from the site more than 72 hours after a blaze killed at least 16 people.
Mohammad Mahmuduzzaman, assistant commissioner (AC) and team leader of the DMP's Bomb Disposal Unit, said on Friday afternoon that the hydrogen sulphide level inside the warehouse was measured at 149 PPM (parts per million).
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The presence of this gas at levels above 100 PPM can cause people to instantly fall unconscious and die, he warned. He also said other toxic gases like carbon monoxide were detected, and that many sacks of chemicals were still inside.
Earlier, he and a four-member unit had entered the warehouse with gas detectors and other equipment.
AC Mahmuduzzaman noted that the gas levels were fluctuating and rising. "Yesterday (Thursday), our gas detectors found hydrogen sulphide above 20 PPM. Today (Friday), it was 149 PPM," he said.
He added that other toxic elements were in the surrounding air and advised an evacuation of at least a 150-300 metre radius, warning that the gas could spread at least 1.5 km downwind.
Fire Service officials confirmed the warehouse was packed with chemicals. "We have information that chemicals worth Tk 7 crore were brought to the warehouse just the day before the fire. The whole warehouse was full," FSCD media officer Talha bin Zasim told The Daily Star.
Despite the danger, crowds of onlookers and grieving families gathered at the accident site on Friday, as factories and businesses on adjacent roads remained closed for the third day.
Many family members, who believe their loved ones are still inside, were seen wailing at the scene. Several attempted to break through a police barricade to enter the Arian Fashion garment factory, which was gutted in the fire on Tuesday.
They claimed their relatives were not among the 16 bodies taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and insisted their remains were still inside.
Tara Begum, who was among those trying to enter, told The Daily Star that her son, Abdul Alim, 14, had worked at the factory last month but had not been paid. He was asked to come to the factory on October 14 to collect his salary.
The fire occurred that day, and she has not seen him since.
"None of the bodies at the DMCH morgue looks like my son. I want to go inside. My son's body is still there," she said.
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