Fire on a ship loaded with LPG in Kutubdia under control

The fire that broke out on the LPG-laden lighter ‘Sofia’ at the outer anchorage in Kutubdia, Cox’s Bazar this morning (October 13) was brought under control after 12 hours.

A total of 31 crew members of the ship, which was heading to Chattogram port, were rescued alive by the Bangladesh Navy and Bangladesh Coast Guard; no casualties were reported.

Flames engulfed the entire ship very quickly after the fire started around 12:45 today. According to coast guard spokesman Lieutenant Commander Khondoker Munif Taki, the fire was brought under control around 12:30 p.m.

Five navy ships, two coast guard ships and several fire brigade and rescue teams worked together to extinguish the fire on the LPG-laden vessel anchored in the outer anchorage west of the Kutubdia coast in the Bay of Bengal, he said.

But he added that Coast Guard and Navy personnel continue to work to reduce the risk of a re-ignition inside the ship.

Commander Taki said navy and coast guard ships arrived at the scene after receiving calls from the local administration shortly after the fire broke out in the early morning hours and were the first to rescue Sofia’s crew members. Since then, they have been working to bring the situation under control.

He added that they did not yet know the origin of the ship, the amount of LPG transported, where it came from and how the fire started.

“The Coast Guard and other concerned agencies are investigating whether it was an accident or an act of sabotage,” Taki said.

He added that the rescued crew members were taken to Hotel Agrabad in Chattogram after first aid was administered to them.