POBNEWS24, Dhaka June 5, 2022 : A horrific explosion took place at the BM container depot at Sitakunda in Chittagong at 11pm on Saturday. The blast shook an area of at least four square kilometers around the site. The window glass of a nearby house shattered. The fire is still burning after the explosion. The fire service is trying to put out the blaze.
Casualties
As of last news, 41 people have been killed . Director of Chittagong Medical College Hospital Brigadier General Shamim Hasan confirmed the information. He said that so far many have gone for treatment. 60 people are undergoing treatment. And 4 people are undergoing treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the hospital.
The dead included eight firefighters, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defense Department.
Ahazari in the hospital
The injured were brought to Chittagong Medical College Hospital immediately after the incident. The injured were being brought there by ambulance, car and CNG-powered autorickshaw last night. Meanwhile, people are rushing to the hospital to donate blood to the injured. Doctors and nurses have been gathered there. Relatives of the injured and killed are crowding the hospital . Looking for relatives. The air has become heavy with their cries and wailing.
Intermittent explosions
The BM container depot caught fire last night and exploded all night. The sound of explosion was heard till 11:30 this afternoon. A reporter of Prothom Alo, who was present at the spot at around 1 pm, said that no sound could be heard. The fire was being put out . The fire service has not yet been able to enter the main place of the fire due to toxic washing.
Army at the scene
According to ISPR, 250 members of the Bangladesh Army are working in the rescue operation . An Army expert team is working to assist in rescue operations and fire control activities. Besides, army engineers and security team are also engaged. The team is working to prevent the spread of chemicals in the fire due to the explosion of chemicals.
Army military police are also assisting in controlling the situation. Apart from that, the army medical team of the people injured in the blast has been working since last night. Army ambulances are assisting in evacuating the injured to Chittagong Medical and CMH. So far 15 people including 14 members of fire service are undergoing treatment at Chittagong CMH.
Huge chemicals
The BM container depot at Sitakunda in Chittagong contains a huge quantity of chemicals called ‘hydrogen peroxide’ . The information was obtained by talking to the fire service and depot personnel.
Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound. If it is heated, hydrogen peroxide acts as an explosive in thermal decomposition.
Black smoke
The blast sent toxic fumes from the chemical into the area . People who came to the scene, including members of the fire service, could not open their eyes. Most members have red eyes. Some people’s eyes are watering. They are having trouble breathing.
According to fire service sources, 183 members of 23 units of fire service are working from 4 upazilas of Chittagong, Feni, Noakhali and Comilla.
The television-fridge in the house is broken
The BM container depot caught fire. That is in Sonaichhari of Sitakunda. It’s out of town. However, there have been settlements in the vicinity. Larger buildings less. Low-income people live more. The windows and doors of many houses are broken. Most homes had their televisions, refrigerators, and electric fans damaged.
There are more tin tents around the depot. At around 1pm, residents said they could not stay indoors because of the black and toxic washing. Many were seen sitting with their faces covered.
The owner did not go to the scene
The owner of the depot or any official did not come to the spot till 12:15 pm today. The fire service rescue team could not find out what kind of chemicals were in the container depot as there was no owner . The fire service says that is why they are in the rescue operation.
The director general of the fire service, Brigadier General Main Uddin, told reporters that no owner of the container depot had been found yet. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. It is not possible to control the fire of all chemicals with water. Due to this it takes time to control the fire.
Patient at the Burn Institute in Dhaka
Three persons have been admitted to Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in connection with the fire and explosion at BM Container Depot in Sitakunda, Chittagong ; Two more are being brought.
Samant Lal Sen, chief coordinator of the institute, told reporters today that they have made all the preparations under the direction of the Prime Minister. A team led by him will leave for Chittagong on Monday morning. He added that no logistical support is needed in Chittagong at present. However, Sheikh Hasina Burn Institute is in constant touch with them.
Prime Minister’s condolences
According to BSS, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed deep grief over the loss of life in the fire at BM Container Depot in Sitakunda, Chittagong .
In a condolence message, the Prime Minister prayed for the souls of the victims and conveyed his deepest condolences to the bereaved families. He directed to provide necessary medical services to the injured persons.
The Prime Minister called upon the government as well as party leaders and workers to come forward to bring the fire under control and conduct rescue operations and provide all possible assistance to the victims.
MPs want investigation
Sitakunda MP Didarul Alam said an investigation should be launched into how chemical depots were set up in densely populated areas .
Didarul Alam said this while inspecting the blast site at BM Container Depot at Sonaichhari Union in Sitakunda Upazila of Chittagong on Sunday afternoon.
Such a big accident never happened again
The container depot industry in Chittagong started its journey 24 years ago for the management of import and export goods. This is the first major accident at a container depot in Chittagong since the industry started its journey .
Nurul Qayyum Khan, chairman of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depot Association, told Prothom Alo today that such a big accident had not happened in the 24 years since the industry started its journey. Earlier, a small fire broke out at the depot. But in those cases it was possible to bring the fire under control very quickly.
The death toll in the Sitakunda blast has risen to 49
The fire at the container depot at Sitakunda in Chittagong did not come under control for about 20 hours. The death toll rose to 49. Twenty-five fire service teams are working to control the fire.
At around 5 pm on Sunday, firefighters were seen spraying water on the burning containers. Fires are burning in some places. And smoke is rising in some places.
A fire broke out at BM container depot in Sonaichhari area of Sitakunda around 9 pm on Saturday. While working on fire control, a container containing chemicals exploded with a loud noise. More than two hundred people were injured.
Fire, heat and smoke spread over two and a half square kilometers
Explosions and fires have spread fire, heat and smoke directly over an area of two and a half square kilometers. And it has a far-reaching effect in the area of 10 square kilometers.
Nandan Mukherjee, a teacher at the University of Dundee in Scotland, revealed this information by analyzing satellite images of Earth Zoom, a US-based organization.
Nandan Mukherjee told Prothom Alo that the wind was blowing at a speed of 21 kmph over the depot area of Sitakunda at 3 pm on Sunday. As a result, the effects of fire, black smoke and heat are advancing towards Kumira, Barbakund and Sitakunda towns.
After inspecting the depot, the port chairman said
Chittagong Port Chairman Rear Admiral M Shahjahan visited BM Container Depot at Sitakunda. Today, Sunday, he visited the depot. During the inspection, the latest situation including the possible cause of the explosion-fire at the depot was brought to light.
A team led by the port chairman visited the accident site around 9 am today. They visited the depot till 11 pm. At that time the fire was burning in the depot.
The port chairman directed to remove some containers filled with chemical products including hydrogen peroxide which were still intact at the depot. These instructions were given to the owners and officials of the Container Depot Association.
According to M Shahjahan, the situation could have worsened if the fire had spread to the intact container.
The port chairman said the depot contained 26 containers carrying hydrogen peroxide. The tin shed of the depot also contained this chemical in plastic jars. After the fire broke out, the chemical filled jar in the container exploded. This releases hydrogen peroxide and comes in contact with the container. Oxygen is released and in contact with water and fire, the temperature inside the container rises and explodes. The container disintegrated and spread like a sprinter.
The family of each worker killed will get 2 lakh taka
The government will provide two lakh taka to each family of the workers killed in the blast. 50,000 will be given for the treatment of the injured.
State Minister for Labor and Employment Begum Mannujan Sufian made the announcement on Sunday. This information was given in a press release of the Ministry of Labor and Employment.
This financial assistance is being provided from Bangladesh Workers Welfare Foundation fund. The injured will be given further treatment if needed, the press release said.
