At least 16 people were killed and about 450 injured in a blast that erupted from a container warehouse this Sunday in the southeast port city of Chittagong, according to local reporting.
Among the deceased are police officers and members of the Chittagong Fire Department. The New Age Bangladesh newspaper said the injured were transported to several hospitals in Sitakund and Chittagong, where emergency teams were mobilized to begin immediate care. Source: local authorities cited by regional press.
Preliminary findings indicate that a fire began in the container warehouse around 21:00 local time. Firefighters arrived promptly to contain the blaze, yet approximately two hours later an explosion occurred, intensifying the fire and spreading it to adjacent areas, as reported by the same outlet.
The presence of chemicals in one container is believed to have accelerated the spread of flames. As of this writing, the fire remains active in certain pockets and is not yet fully extinguished by the Chittagong Fire Department, according to ongoing assessments.
Md Faruk Hossain Sikdar, deputy director of the Chittagong Fire and Civil Defense Service, noted that about 19 fire units were deployed to battle the blaze and six ambulances were on site to support medical transport and triage efforts.
Chittagong Medical College Hospital subsequently issued appeals for blood donations to help meet the urgent needs of injured patients, coordinating closely with regional responders to ensure rapid delivery to those receiving treatment.
Officials stated that every effort would be made to ensure the wounded receive the best possible care and that medical expenses would be covered. A senior administrator from one of the warehouses involved in port area operations indicated that (Source: multiparty statements from port authorities and company representatives) full financial support would be provided for medical treatment and associated costs, with compensation processes being reviewed for those affected by the incident.