Dhaka, June 5 (agency)At least 40 people were killed and more than 450 injured in a massive fire triggered by an explosion at a private container depot in southeast Bangladesh on Saturday night. “So far 40 bodies have been shifted to the mortuary here,” a police officer posted at the Government Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) told reporters. The Daily Star newspaper reported that a fire broke out at the BM Container Depot in Kadamrasul area of Sitakund Upazila of Chittagong on Saturday night. It said at least 40 people were killed in the fire at the depot and the subsequent explosions and hundreds were injured, including police and firefighters. Head of Health and Services Department Istakul Islam said, “More than 450 people have been injured in the incident, out of which at least 350 are admitted to CMCH (Chittagong Medical College Hospital).” Islam feared an increase in the death toll. According to fire service sources, three fire brigade personnel also died during this period.
The authorities have constituted a high-level inquiry committee to probe the incident and have been asked to submit its report in the next three days. The fire is believed to have been caused by chemicals at the container depot. He said that at around 12.45 pm there was a big explosion and due to the chemicals in one container, the fire spread from one container to another.
