Ukhiya, Oct 30 (V7N) – A fire fuelled by gas emerging from underground during the installation of a deep tube well in Inani, Ukhiya, remained burning after 60 hours on Thursday, raising concerns among local residents.
The fire broke out at around 6:30am on Tuesday, October 27, and has continued to burn. To ensure public safety, the upazila administration has begun installing a barbed-wire security perimeter covering a 200-metre area around the source of the fire. Red flags have been placed to mark the danger zone, while police and village police personnel have been deployed around the clock.
On Wednesday afternoon, October 28, a team from the Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (BAPEX) collected gas samples from the site. Officials hope laboratory tests will help identify the nature and composition of the gas and provide an indication of possible underground reserves.
Construction of the security perimeter began on Thursday morning around the site near Chhotokhal Bridge in Jaliapalong Union and continued until evening. A team of officials also visited the area during the afternoon.
Security measures stepped up
Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Panna Akter said a high-level meeting had been held to discuss the incident, describing it as an important development for residents of Ukhiya.
Assistant Commissioner (Land) Abu Abdullah said the administration had identified the danger zone and placed red flags around it. Police and village police personnel were being deployed day and night to maintain security.
Despite the increased security measures, crowds have continued to gather near the site. People, including women and men from Ukhiya, Teknaf and neighbouring areas, are visiting to see the fire, making it important for visitors to follow safety instructions.
Saiful Islam, who travelled from Khuniyapalong in Ramu to see the fire, told this correspondent that he had come after watching videos of the incident on Facebook.
Morshed Farabi, a student leader from Haldia Palong Union, called for the fire to be brought under control quickly.
How the fire started
According to local residents and administrative sources, work was underway to install a deep tube well at the homestead of Mohammad Abdullah near Chhotokhal Bridge in Inani at around 6:30am on Tuesday. During the drilling, gas began escaping from underground at high pressure and subsequently caught fire.
Four units of the Fire Service, police and army personnel reached the site after being informed. However, the fire could not be extinguished because gas continued to flow from underground.
As the flames continued to burn, the authorities introduced precautionary measures in surrounding areas. The security perimeter is intended to prevent people from approaching the site and reduce the risk of further incidents, including the possible spread of flames or hazards caused by gas pressure.
What BAPEX says about the gas source
SM Nafifun Arham, BAPEX manager (geology) and head of the geological survey team, said the initial assessment suggested that drilling had reached a gas-bearing layer at a depth of around 1,000 feet.
He said gas might have reached the surface through underground fractures.
However, he stressed that the nature, composition and quantity of the gas could not be determined without laboratory analysis. He also cautioned that forcibly attempting to stop the gas flow or reduce its pressure could cause it to escape through another weak point underground, potentially leading to a major accident.
For now, the priority is to ensure safety and keep people away from the danger zone, he said.
The results of the samples collected by BAPEX are expected to provide a clearer understanding of the gas and its characteristics. However, without the test results and further technical assessment, it is not possible to say when the fire will be brought under control.
Power restored after 36-hour outage
Electricity supply had been suspended across an area stretching approximately 15 kilometres from Monkhali to Patuartek over fears that the flames could spread to nearby power lines. The shutdown left around 4,000 families without electricity.
Power supply was restored late Wednesday night, after approximately 36 hours.
Engineer Kaiser Nur, deputy general manager of the Ukhiya Rural Electricity Association, said the suspension had been a precautionary measure to prevent the flames from reaching electrical wires. After assessing the situation, electricity supply was resumed on Wednesday night.
Growing crowds prompt calls for caution
Interest in the incident has increased after videos of the fire spread on social media. People from Ukhiya, Teknaf and Ramu are continuing to visit the site.
Residents fear that crowds gathering close to the source of the fire could create additional safety risks. They have called on the authorities to restrict access to the danger zone and ensure the safety of nearby households.
Local people hope that experts will determine the source and characteristics of the gas through proper testing and identify a safe way to bring the fire under control.
The BAPEX laboratory results and subsequent technical assessment are now expected to play a crucial role in determining the nature of the underground gas and the appropriate measures to address the continuing fire.
END/MSI/SMA/
