A devastating fire in an impoverished area in the heart of Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, destroyed 1,500 dwellings, leaving thousands homeless, authorities said Wednesday.

No casualties have been reported.

The blaze, which began Tuesday evening at the massive Korail area in Dhaka, was doused on Wednesday after 16 hours, said Rashed Bin Khalid, a duty officer at the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defence.

The fire service's director, Lt. Col. Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury, said about 1,500 dwellings were burned or damaged in the blaze and thousands remained homeless.

According to official data, about 60,000 families — many of them climate refugees — live in the impoverished area which is more than 160 acres (65 hectares).

The area straddles Dhaka’s upscale Gulshan and Banani neighborhoods, and it is surrounded by clusters of high-rise apartment and office buildings.

Heavy smoke blanketed the area as flames engulfed the dwellings overnight.

On Wednesday, the residents who lost their homes were desperate to collect their valuables as they scoured the debris.

Firefighters said they struggled to reach the area because of narrows alleys.

Dhaka, a city of 10.2 million as of 2024, has hundreds of impoverished areas where people from rural Bangladesh migrate to because of poverty and exploitation.

AP video by Abdullah Apu