Gas fire at Inani in Ukhiya burns for fourth day, Section 144 imposed over 200 metres amid explosion and landslide fears

A fire caused by gas escaping from underground during the installation of a deep tube well at Inani in Ukhiya, Cox's Bazar, has been burning for four days. As the intensity of the fire has not decreased, fears of an explosion and landslides have arisen.

For public safety, the upazila administration has imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure over an area of 200 metres around the site. The risky area is being fenced with barbed wire and red flags have been put up. An LGED road has also been kept closed.

On Tuesday (27 October) morning, work was under way to install a deep tube well at the house of Abdullah in the Chotokhal area of Jaliapalong union in Ukhiya. Gas suddenly began escaping from under the ground, and at one stage it caught fire. The fire has been burning continuously since then.

The intensity of the fire had not decreased even on Friday afternoon. Rather, a strong smell of gas spreading in the surrounding area has increased panic among local people.

An expert team from the Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company Limited (BAPEX) has come from Dhaka and is working at the site to observe the situation and determine the nature of the gas. The team has collected samples of soil, sand and water and sent them to Dhaka for testing. Collection of more samples, including pebbles, is under way.

On the ground, a security cordon is being built over 200 metres from the source of the fire. Red flags have been put up to mark the danger limit, and the area is being fenced with barbed wire. Members of the police, fire service and administration are on duty there, and strict restrictions have been imposed on public entry to avoid risk.

Ukhiya Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Panna Akter said security measures have been taken over 200 metres around the site in the interest of public safety. The LGED road has been temporarily closed and people have been directed to travel by alternative routes. These measures will remain in force until the situation returns to normal.

Shamsul Alam, UP member of ward 6 of Jaliapalong union, said the intensity of the fire has not decreased even after three days. Due to the wind, the heat of the fire and the gas are spreading southward. As that side has more settlement, concern among residents is growing. Explosion-like sounds are heard from time to time, and soil has collapsed at several nearby places, he said.

Dolan Acharya, senior station officer of Cox's Bazar Fire Service and Civil Defence, said the continuous burning has created a risk of explosion and landslides there. Following BAPEX's advice, people within 200 metres are being moved to a safe distance. Two fire service teams have been on duty at the site for the past three days. The BAPEX expert team will stay in Cox's Bazar until the situation is brought under control.

Zebun Nahar, deputy general manager of BAPEX's exploration division, said small reserves or pockets of biogenic gas usually exist in shallow layers of the soil. BAPEX usually extracts gas from depths of 2,500 to 3,500 metres. But at Inani gas is coming out from a depth of about 800 feet, which is an exceptional incident. Although there is a zone-based geological survey of the area, no exploration had been done at that depth before. The nature of the gas and the next steps will be known for certain after the sample test report is received.

Cox's Bazar Deputy Commissioner Abdul Mannan said there is a fear of an explosion or landslide at any time at and around the place where gas is escaping from the tube well. Local residents and visitors have therefore been directed to stay at a safe distance. The administration is monitoring the situation round the clock and taking necessary measures on the experts' advice.

Local residents have demanded that the source of the gas emission be identified quickly and the fire brought under control. They are also waiting for the results of BAPEX's tests to know the real cause of the incident, alongside ensuring the safety of people in the risky area.