Bangladesh
Sitakunda Fire Sitakunda container depot fire still not under control after 63 hours
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, June 7: It has been 63 hours since the fire broke out at the BM container depot in Chittagong's Sitakunda, but it has not been brought under control yet. Several containers are still on fire.
The fire service said the operation to find the missing persons will be resumed after the fire is brought under control.
On Tuesday (June 7) at around 9 am, it was seen on the spot that five big units of the fire service were working to douse the fire. Four chemical containers have been removed to a safe place. However, the fire service says that even if the containers are removed, there is a risk of those exploding later. After dousing the main fire, the expert unit of the fire service will work with these containers containing chemicals.
Several containers are still burning. However, the containers containing chemicals have been removed from the area. Smoke is coming out from a few containers. The fire service says several firefighters are tired of working continuously for more than 63 hours. Even after the division of duty, the firefighters are getting tired as the level of fire is excessive.
Abul Hasan, a long-serving firefighter, said the fire was still raging. Some of our members are exhausted from the excess heat of the fire. After resting for a while, they are returning to work.
Md. Akhtaruzzaman, assistant director of the Greater Comilla Fire Station, said there were piles of cloth where the fire was burning. Due to this, the fire in the depot can not be controlled till the fire in the clothes is extinguished.
The fire service official said fireman can not go inside due to excess heat and the fear of further explosions. After bringing the fire under control, they will enter and search for bodies inside the depot.
A fire broke out at the BM container depot at Sitakunda in Chittagong around 9:30 pm on Saturday. After the fire broke out, several containers containing chemicals exploded one by one. The death toll from the fire and horrific explosions has risen to 49.
However, according to the district administration, the death toll is 46. At leasat 163 burnt and injured people have been admitted to the hospital. Bodies of the victims, who were identified during the night, had been handed over to the families by the district administration.
Chittagong Civil Surgeon Dr. Md. Ilias Hossain Chowdhury said the victims included depot workers as well as nine members of the fire service. The condition of many hospitalized is critical. The death toll could rise.
