Terrible fire at BM Container Depot in Sitakunda, Chittagong

 

Nurul Kabir Arman,

Special Representative

The fire at BM Container Depot in Sitakunda, Chittagong has not been brought under control yet. The fire was not brought under control till 6:30 am on Sunday (June 5). The fire is spreading due to the presence of chemicals in the container. There has been a severe water crisis in and around the site. As a result, the fire service has to get speed to bring the fire under control.

Faruk Hossain Sikder, assistant director of the fire service, said the fire was almost under control. But suddenly 6-7 containers exploded and the fire spread again. There were chemicals in the container. That's why the explosion happened.

He added that 16 units of nine fire service stations had reached the spot and were working to put out the blaze. Many of our members have been injured.

The container depot caught fire around 9:30 pm on Saturday (June 4). As the night progresses, the severity of the fire increases. Fire service personnel working at the scene said they had to work slowly due to lack of water source. So it takes time to put out the fire.

The burnt and injured were being rescued at the container depot and taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital as well as a nearby private clinic-hospital.

The death toll has risen to 11. More than three hundred people were injured. The casualties included depot workers as well as members of the police and fire service. The injured are being treated in different wards of Chittagong Medical College. Under the pressure of extra patients, many are being treated on the hospital floor in addition to the ward. Doctors are struggling to treat them. There has been a shortage of doctors and blood in the medical field.