A 40-year-old woman with intellectual disability was burned to death while two sustained burn injuries in a fire that broke out at their house at Naupara in Lalpur upazila of Natore district on Tuesday night. The deceased was identified as Shahnaz Begum, daughter of Ramjan Ali of the village. Ujjal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Lalpur Police Station, said a fire broke out at Shahnaz’s house, originating from a lamp, at 9 pm and spread soon. Sweetmeat shop catches fire in Dhaka's Lalbagh Hearing screams, neighbors rushed to the spot but failed to douse the fire. On information, a firefighting unit recovered the body of Shahnaz and rescued two Mayesha Khatun, 8, Shahnaz’s daughter; and Yeatul Begum, 70, from the house. 35 killed in petrol warehouse fire in Benin The injured were taken to a local hospital and later shifted to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital. Over 200 shops burnt down in Krishi Market fire: DNCC CEO      

A fire that raced through a hall hosting a Christian wedding in northern Iraq killed at least 100 people and injured 150 others, authorities said Wednesday, warning the death toll could rise higher. The fire happened in Iraq's Nineveh province in its Hamdaniya area, authorities said. That's a predominantly Christian area just outside of the city of Mosul, some 335 kilometers (205 miles) northwest of the capital, Baghdad. Television footage showed flames rushing over the wedding hall as the fire took hold. In the blaze's aftermath, only charred metal and debris could be seen as people walked through the scene of the fire, the only light coming from television cameras and the lights of onlookers' mobile phones. Sweetmeat shop catches fire in Dhaka's Lalbagh Survivors arrived at local hospitals, receiving oxygen and bandaged, as their families milled through hallways and outside as workers organized more oxygen cylinders. The health department in Nineveh province raised the death toll to 114. Health Ministry spokesman Saif al-Badr earlier put the number of injured at 150 via the state-run Iraqi News Agency. “All efforts are being made to provide relief to those affected by the unfortunate accident,” al-Badr said. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered an investigation into the fire and asked the country's Interior and Health officials to provide relief, his office said in a statement online. Najim al-Jubouri, the provincial governor of Nineveh, said some of the injured had been transferred to regional hospitals. He cautioned there were no final casualty figures yet from the blaze, which suggests the death toll still may rise. 35 killed in petrol warehouse fire in Benin There was no immediate official word on the cause of the blaze but initial reports by the Kurdish television news channel Rudaw suggested fireworks at the venue may have sparked the fire. Civil defense officials quoted by the Iraqi News Agency described the wedding hall's exterior as being decorated with highly flammable cladding that were illegal in the country. “The fire led to the collapse of parts of the hall as a result of the use of highly flammable, low-cost building materials that collapse within minutes when the fire breaks out,” civil defense said. It wasn't immediately clear why authorities in Iraq allowed the cladding to be used on the hall, though corruption and mismanagement remains endemic two decades after the U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. Fire at SK+F Pharmaceuticals godown in Tongi doused While some types of cladding can be made with fire-resistant material, experts say those that have caught fire at the wedding hall and elsewhere weren’t designed to meet stricter safety standards and often were put onto buildings without any breaks to slow or halt a possible blaze. That includes the 2017 Grenfell Fire in London that killed 72 people in the greatest loss of life in a fire on British soil since World War II, as well as multiple high-rise fires in the United Arab Emirates. The fire was the latest disaster to strike Iraq’s shrinking Christian minority, which over the past two decades has been violently targeted by extremists first from al-Qaida and then the Islamic State militant group. Although the Nineveh plains, the historic homeland, was wrested back from the Islamic State group six years ago, some towns are still mostly rubble and lack basic services. Many Christians have left for Europe, Australia or the United States. The number of Christians in Iraq today is estimated at 150,000, compared to 1.5 million in 2003. Iraq’s total population is more than 40 million.

Fires can be devastating, but with the right knowledge and precaution, parents can significantly reduce the risk to their children. Whether it's in the home, at school, or during family outings, understanding and implementing fire safety measures can make all the difference. In this guide, we will explore essential fire safety tips for parents to keep their children safe. 12 Fire Safety Tips for Parents to Keep Children Safe One of the elements that can be both helpful and dangerous is fire. It can happen suddenly and at any time! The first rule to cope with the situation is not to panic. Besides, parents can follow these tips to prevent any harm to their kids. Install Smoke Alarms According to the US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), homes with working smoke alarms have a significantly lower risk of fire-related deaths. In homes where smoke alarms are working properly, the chance of death in a fire is 55% less compared to homes that either have no smoke alarms or have smoke alarms that don't work. It's essential to install smoke alarms in key areas of the home, including the kitchen, bedrooms, and hallways.  The smoke alarms should be checked regularly, and change the batteries at least once a year. The children should be trained about the sound of the alarm and what to do when they hear it. Read more: Earthquake Safety Tips for Parents to Keep Children Safe Create an Escape Plan Having a well-thought-out escape plan is crucial for ensuring children's safety in the event of a fire. Parents need to discuss and practice the plan with their children regularly. A meeting place can be designated outside the house where everyone can gather.  Parents need to make sure that their children know how to crawl low under smoke to avoid inhaling toxic fumes and how to feel closed doors for heat before opening them. Keep Matches and Lighters Out of Reach One of the leading causes of fire-related deaths among children is playing with fire-starting materials. Children are naturally curious, and their curiosity often leads them to explore their surroundings, including potentially dangerous items like matches and lighters. They might not fully comprehend the dangers associated with fire, making them more likely to experiment with these items.  Parents should keep matches and lighters in a high, locked cabinet or drawer, out of the kids’ reaches. Additionally, children should be educated about the dangers of playing with fire and the severe consequences it can have. Read more: Multi-storey buildings being built ignoring fire safety Install Fire Extinguishers Having a fire extinguisher in the kitchen and other key areas can make a significant difference in containing a small fire before it spreads. Parents need to ensure that their children know where the fire extinguishers are located and how to use them, following the PASS method: Pull the pin, Aim the nozzle, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep from side to side. Practice Kitchen Safety The kitchen is one of the most common places for household fires to start. Children should be kept away from the kitchen when the stove and oven are on.  Parents can use back burners when possible and turn pot handles inward to prevent accidental spills. Flammable objects, such as dish towels and curtains, should be away from the stove. Older children should be taught how to use kitchen appliances in a safe way. Read more: Fire Safety in Apartments: Causes and Prevention

A microbus was torched on Dhaka-Rajshahi highway at Dalsharak in Natore Sadar upazila on Sunday during the ongoing youth road march of BNP’s three associate bodies from Bogura to Rajshahi. Besides, a number of vehicles including a private car were also vandalised in different parts of the district town. Nasim Ahmed, officer-in-charge of Sadar Police Station, said it is not clear yet who set the microbus on fire and vandalised the vehicles. Police, BNP clash in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi; One vehicle torched “Police are investigating the incident,” he said. Meanwhile, Shahidul Islam Bachhu, convener of district unit BNP blamed the ruling party men for the violence during their party’s youth road march. He also alleged that the leaders and activists of the ruling party took position in different parts of the district town to prevent the road march enforced by the BNP’s three associate bodies- Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal and Swechchasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal. Man stabbed dead over  protesting sexual harassment in Bagerhat; Accused’s 3 houses, easy-bike torched BNP’s associated bodies announced the road march on September 13 to mount pressure on the government to quit and hold the next election under a non-party caretaker government. Contacted, Shariful Islam Ramjan, general secretary of district unit Awami League,  denied the allegation and said the law enforcers will find out the culprits behind it after investigation. BNP Bogura office vandalised, torched ‘Tarunner road march’ from Rangpur announced by Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal and Swechchasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal- began on Sunday and it will continue till September 30.  

Firefighters had to struggle quite a lot to bring the fire under control due to the huge crowd in front of Mohammadpur Krishi Market, said Director of the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD) Lt Col Md Tajul Islam on Thursday (September 14, 2023).“It took time to douse the flame due to overcrowding and the police and BGB have faced difficulties in controlling the crowd of onlookers,” he said while talking to reporters.Replying to a question, the fire department director said the fire might have originated from a grocery shop and an investigation will be carried out to identify the reason behind the fire. Fire at Mohammadpur Krishi Market: Traders lament losing everythingTwo people were slightly injured but no casualty was reported.He also claimed that there is no adequate water supply at the market and no primary fire controlling equipment.Besides, there is no safety plan at the market. The authorities concerned have issued notices several times, and public awareness programmes were carried out at different times but there was no response from the market authorities, said Tajul. Fire at Dhaka’s Mohammadpur Krishi Market under control; smoke still billowingTalking about the surroundings of the market, Tajul said it is like Bangabazar and the small alleys were blocked by piles of goods, and collapsible gates were closed which created a problem for the firefighters.The night guards of the market were not present during the fire, forcing the firefighters to break the collapsible gates, he said. 8 killed in 1,667 fire incidents in August: Fire Service“When we reached the spot, we saw that fire engulfed almost three-quarters of the market and the firefighting units worked hard to contain it,” said.The fire broke out at the market around 3:43 am and spread soon, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters (Media Cell).Seventeen firefighting units are working to fully douse the blaze. It was brought under control around 9:25 am.

Several hundred traders at Dhaka’s Mohammadpur Krishi Market are lamenting losing goods worth several crores of taka in the massive fire. Thursday is the weekly holiday for the market and all traders went to their respective homes closing their shops at night. After learning about the fire early today, the traders started thronging the market — only to see their shops and goods burn. Fire at Dhaka’s Mohammadpur Krishi Market under control; smoke still billowing Saiful Islam Sharif, a trader of the market said, “I have two shops in the market. Of these, one is rented while the other is my own. I reached the spot early this morning but I couldn't do anything. My shops have just turned into ashes. There were clothes worth Tk one crore in my shops.” Sharif also said he left Tk 6 lakh in the cash box of the shop, and that too is now gone. 8 killed in 1,667 fire incidents in August: Fire Service The massive fire broke out at the market around 3:43 am and spread soon, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters (Media Cell). Seventeen firefighting units are working to fully douse the blaze. It was brought under control around 9:25 am. Smoke is still billowing from the site, making it difficult for the firemen to work. No casualties were reported at the time of filing this report. Fire breaks out at garment factory in Ctg Traders at the site said that there were 500 shops in the market. Senior Station Officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters (Media Cell), said that WASA, Bangladesh Air Force, Army, Navy, BGB, and police are all assisting the fire service men.  

The massive fire, which broke out at Dhaka’s Mohammadpur Krishi Market early this morning, is now under control. The fire broke out at the market around 3:43 am and spread soon, said Anwarul Islam, warehouse inspector of Fire service and Civil Defence Headquarters (Media Cell). Fire inside a parked train's private compartment kills nine in southern India Seventeen firefighting units are working to fully douse the blaze. It was brought under control around 9:25 am. Smoke is still billowing from the site, making it difficult for the firemen to work. Fire breaks out at Mohammadpur furniture factory No casualties were reported at the time of filing this report. Fire breaks out at garment factory in Ctg

A fire erupted inside a stationary train compartment at a railway station in southern India killing nine people on Saturday morning, officials said. The blaze broke out early at 5 a.m. and burned for two hours before firefighters were able to put it out, authorities said. Also read : A crush at the opening ceremony of the Indian Ocean Island Games in Madagascar kills at least 12 It started inside a train's private compartment which was detached and parked on the railway tracks in the Madurai station, located in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, according to a statement by the Southern Railway. A gas cylinder smuggled in by some passengers caused the fire, the statement read, adding that police, fire and rescue officials helped pull out the bodies from the coach. There was no damage to other coaches. Also read : PM Hasina writes to Modi hailing India’s historic landing on Moon Southern Railway did not divulge the number of people inside the compartment at the time of the fire but said many managed to get out. Officials told the Press Trust of India news agency that 20 others were injured and taken to hospital. Also read : India becomes the fourth country to successfully land a spacecraft on the moon Accidents are common on India's railroad network, one of the world's largest, with some 22 million passengers daily. Most collisions and fires are blamed on poor maintenance and human error. In June, a deadly train collision killed over 290 people in one of India's worst train accidents.

A mobile morgue unit arrived Tuesday to help Hawaii officials working painstakingly to identify the remains of people killed in wildfires that ravaged Maui, as the death rose above 100 and teams intensified the search for more dead in neighborhoods reduced to ash. Gov. Josh Green announced the confirmed death toll had risen from 99 to 101 in an afternoon video address, saying, “We are heartsick that we’ve had such loss.” The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services deployed a team of coroners, pathologists and technicians along with exam tables, X-ray units and other equipment to identify victims and process remains, said Jonathan Greene, the agency's deputy assistant secretary for response. As death toll from Maui fire reaches 89, authorities say effort to count the losses is just starting “It’s going to be a very, very difficult mission,” Greene said. “And patience will be incredibly important because of the number of victims.” A week after a blaze tore through historic Lahaina, many survivors started moving into hundreds of hotel rooms set aside for displaced locals, while donations of food, ice, water and other essentials poured in. Crews using cadaver dogs have scoured about 32% of the area, the County of Maui said in a statement Tuesday. The governor asked for patience as authorities became overwhelmed with requests to visit the burn area. Just three bodies have been identified, and officials expected to start releasing names Tuesday, according to Maui Police Chief John Pelletier, who renewed an appeal for families with missing relatives to provide DNA samples. So far 41 samples have been submitted, the county statement said, and 13 DNA profiles have been obtained from remains. 6 diesel-fired plants to shut by year-end, saving Tk 2,250cr annually The governor warned that scores more bodies could be found. The wildfires, some of which have not yet been fully contained, are already the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century. Their cause was under investigation. When asked by Hawaii News Now if children are among the missing, Green said Tuesday: “Tragically, yes. ... When the bodies are smaller, we know it's a child.” He described some of the sites being searched as “too much to share or see from just a human perspective.” Survivors of Maui's wildfires return home to blackened ruins as death toll rises to 67 Another complicating factor, Green said, is that storms with rain and high winds were forecast for the weekend. Officials are mulling whether to “preemptively power down or not for a short period of time, because right now all of the infrastructure is weaker.” A week after the fires started, some residents remained with intermittent power, unreliable cellphone service and uncertainty over where to get assistance. Some people walked periodically to a seawall, where phone connections were strongest, to make calls. Flying low off the coast, a single-prop airplane used a loudspeaker to blare information about where to get water and supplies. Victoria Martocci, who lost her scuba business and a boat, planned to travel to her storage unit in Kahalui from her Kahana home Wednesday to stash documents and keepsakes given to her by a friend whose house burned. “These are things she grabbed, the only things she could grab, and I want to keep them safe for her,” Martocci said. The local power utility has already faced criticism for not shutting off power as strong winds buffeted a parched area under high risk for fire. It’s not clear whether the utility’s equipment played any role in igniting the flames. Hawaiian Electric Co. Inc. President and CEO Shelee Kimura said many factors go into a decision to cut power, including the impact on people who rely on specialized medical equipment and concerns that a shutoff in the fire area would have knocked out water pumps. Green has said the flames raced as fast as a mile (1.6 kilometers) every minute in one area, fueled by dry grass and propelled by strong winds from a passing hurricane. The blaze that swept into centuries-old Lahaina last week destroyed nearly every building in the town of 13,000. That fire has been 85% contained, according to the county. Another blaze known as the Upcountry fire was 60% contained. The Lahaina fire caused about $3.2 billion in insured property losses, according to calculations by Karen Clark & Company, a prominent disaster and risk modeling company. That doesn’t count damage to uninsured property. The firm said more than 2,200 buildings were damaged or destroyed by flames, with about 3,000 damaged by fire or smoke or both. Even where the flames have retreated, authorities have warned that toxic byproducts may remain, including in drinking water, after the flames spewed poisonous fumes. That has left many unable to return home. The Red Cross said 575 evacuees were spread across five shelters as of Monday. Green said thousands of people will need housing for at least 36 weeks. He said Tuesday that some 450 hotel rooms and 1,000 Airbnb rentals were being made available. President Joe Biden said Tuesday that he and first lady Jill Biden would visit Hawaii “as soon as we can” but he doesn’t want his presence to interrupt recovery and cleanup efforts. During a stop in Milwaukee to highlight his economic agenda, Biden pledged that “every asset they need will be there for them.” More than 3,000 people have registered for federal assistance, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and that number was expected to grow. FEMA was providing $700 to displaced residents to cover the cost of food, water, first aid and medical supplies, in addition to qualifying coverage for the loss of homes and personal property. The Biden administration was seeking $12 billion more for the government’s disaster relief fund as part of its supplemental funding request to Congress. Green said “leaders all across the board” have helped by donating over 1 million pounds (450,000 kilograms) of food as well as ice, water, diapers and baby formula. U.S. Marines, the Hawaii National Guard, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard have all joined the aid and recovery efforts. Lahaina resident Kekoa Lansford helped rescue people as the flames swept through town. Now he is collecting stories from survivors, hoping to create a timeline of what happened. He has 170 emails so far. The scene was haunting. “Horrible, horrible," Lansford said Tuesday. "You ever seen hell in the movies? That is what it looked like. Fire everywhere. Dead people.”  

A tire blowout caused a bus to lose control and crash into a road divider and burst into flames, killing 25 people in western India early Saturday, police told local media. Police officer Sunil Kadasne told the Press Trust of India news agency that 33 people were on the bus when the crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. on a highway in the Buldhana district of Maharashtra state. The eight survivors were taken to a hospital, he said. Pakistani officials say bus accident in Salt mountain range kills 12, injures 8 The private travel bus was headed to Pune city from Nagpur, another city in the state. 7 killed and 16 injured in road accidents in 3 districts Deadly road accidents are common in India, often due to reckless driving, poorly maintained roads and aging vehicles. More than 110,000 people are killed every year in road accidents across India, according to police. Mother, 7-month old child among 3 dead in Sirajganj road accident