Bangladesh:at least 43 killed in fire at chemical container depot

In Bangladesh, at least 43 people died and more than 450 people were injured including dozens of firemen and police personnel in a major fire broke out at a private Inland Container depot in Sitakunda area near Chattogram port on Saturday night. “So far 43 dead bodies reached the morgue,” a police officer stationed at the state-run Chattagram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) told newsmen. The death toll is likely to go up as several of the injured are in a serious condition. The fire started around 9.30 last night in a container area which stored the highly inflammable material for export. It quickly spread around the area leading to a blast around midnight which was heard more than 4 kilometres away. Firefighters brought the blaze under control only by Sunday morning. The injured have been admitted to the Chattogram medical college hospital. Many of the injured have sustained serious burn injuries. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed deep sorrow at the loss of life in the incident. Chattogram Divisional Commissioner (DC) Ashraf Uddin further said that families of the deceased are being given USD 560 (Taka 50,000) by the DC office. Meanwhile, USD 224 (Taka 20,000) is being given to the families of the injured. Officials formed a high-powered investigation committee demanding it to submit a report in the next three days. Several types of chemicals like hydrogen peroxide were stored in containers at the depot and the chemicals have visibly sparked the fire, fire service chief Brigadier General Mohammad Mainuddin told newsmen at the scene in the Sitakunda area.