LAST UPDATE: 13:00
At least 49 people have been killed in a fire that broke out after a huge explosion at a chemical warehouse in Bangkok’s Shitakunda, according to a new official report. More than 300 people were injured.
The fire broke out yesterday Saturday around 21:30 local time (18:30 Greek time) at the BM Container Depot storage area. Hundreds of firefighters rushed to the scene to put it out, but an hour later several containers containing chemicals exploded.
The huge explosion shook the buildings several kilometers from the warehouse, according to locals.
Among the injured are 40 firefighters and 10 police officers. According to him, “the death toll is expected to increase because some of the injured are in critical condition.”
The huge explosion shook the buildings several kilometers from the warehouse, according to locals.
Fireballs
“The explosion sent fireballs into the sky. Fireballs falling like rain. We were very scared and left immediately,” said Mohgamad Ali, 60, a local resident.
“The explosion threw me about ten meters away from where I was. I had burns on my arms and legs,” said Tofael Ahmed, a truck driver in the warehouse.
Some of the containers in the private storage facility contained chemicals, especially hydrogen peroxide, fire chief Min Udin told reporters. “We have not been able to bring the fire under control due to the presence of this chemical,” he added.
The warehouse employed about 600 people, said Mujibun Rahman, the director, who said he did not know the cause of the fire.
For his part, Muminur Rahman, the governor of Chittagong, called for an investigation into the incident. He also said that about 200 soldiers have been called in for reinforcements, mainly to prevent chemicals from spilling into the sea.
Rahman said many of the containers contained millions of dollars worth of clothes to be exported to Western countries.
About 90% of Bangladesh’s nearly $ 100 billion in annual trade goes through Chittagong. In this large port the activity has returned from the end of 2021 thanks to the global economic recovery after the pandemic.
Fires are common in Bangladesh, where safety regulations are not respected.
In July 2021, 54 people lost their lives in a fire that broke out in a huge food processing plant located outside the capital Dhaka. In February 2020, 70 people were killed in another fire that destroyed several apartment buildings in Dhaka.
Source: AMPE
Source: Capital
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