Fire in LPG-laden ship at Kutubdia still raging after 11 hours
32 crew members rescued alive; no casualties reported yet
A fire that broke out on the LPG-laden lighterage ship "Sofia" in the outer anchorage in Kutubdia, Cox's Bazar early today (13 October) is yet to come under control.
So far, 32 crew members have been rescued alive by the Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Coast Guard and no casualties have been reported.
The fire started at around 12:45am and was still blazing until 11:30am, according to coast guard east zone spokesperson Lt Commander Khondoker Munif Taki.
The flames inside the LPG-laden ship are still raging and yet to be brought under control even after 11 hours, said Taki.
Five navy ships and two coast guard ships alongside a rescue team were working to douse the fire on the ship, anchored in the outer anchorage west of Kutubdia coast in the Bay of Bengal, he said.
Lt Commander Taki said the navy and coast guard ships, which came to the scene upon receiving calls from the local administration, have been trying to bring the flames under control since the early hours after rescuing the members of Sofia's crew.
They are yet to know the origin of the vessel, which was on its way to Chattogram Port, how much LPG it was carrying, how the fire started and whether any crew members are missing, he added.
The rescued crew members have been taken to Hotel Agrabad in Chattogram after they were provided first aid, Taki said.