A powerful earthquake in Dhaka could result in widespread structural collapse and trigger devastating fires due to ruptured gas pipelines, electrical short circuits, and other secondary hazards. Specialists emphasize that fatalities tend to rise significantly when fires occur after earthquakes, especially in densely populated urban areas lacking adequate preventive and emergency response measures. The risk is heightened by the vulnerability of essential utility services like electricity, gas, and water during a strong earthquake.
Experts caution that Dhaka’s dense urban landscape, with overhead electricity cables and underground gas and water pipelines running through congested areas, poses a significant risk. The interconnected systems in the city could potentially lead to a chain of disasters, particularly large-scale fires caused by gas leaks and electrical failures. Mohammad Abu Sadeque, a former Vice President of the Bangladesh Earthquake Society, highlights that fires post-earthquakes commonly stem from electrical short circuits, with gas stoves also posing ignition risks during cooking hours.
Sadeque further explains that earthquakes can disrupt water supply systems, exacerbating firefighting challenges and creating immediate water shortages for residents. The threat of large-scale fires after a major earthquake is particularly high in cities like Dhaka, Sylhet, and Chattogram, where extensive underground gas pipeline networks increase the risk. To mitigate the risk of fires caused by electrical faults, Sadeque recommends installing automatic shut-off devices at the main electrical connections of buildings for immediate power supply cuts during emergencies.
Fire Service and Civil Defence Director General Brigadier General Muhammad Jahed Kamal, following the recent Narsingdi earthquake, mentions the readiness of a 60-member Special Rescue Team at Purbachal to respond to emergencies in case fire stations become inoperable. The department is also training 62,000 volunteers nationwide to strengthen earthquake preparedness. Despite specialised training for Fire Service personnel in earthquake response, the Director General acknowledges that an earthquake of extremely high magnitude could overwhelm the department’s emergency response capacity.
