DHAKA (Reuters) – An enormous hearth swept by means of an inland container depot in southeastern Bangladesh, killing at the least 16 folks and injuring greater than 150, officers mentioned on Sunday.

The hearth broke out at a container facility on Saturday evening at Sitakunda, 40 km (25 miles) from the port metropolis of Chittagong, triggering a number of container explosions after an enormous blast, on the website, officers mentioned.

Firefighters have been nonetheless working to place out the hearth on Sunday morning, mentioned hearth service official Faruk Hossain Shikder. The explosion shook the neighbourhood and shattered glasses of home windows of close by homes, native residents mentioned.

The demise toll might rise as a few of the injured are in important situation, mentioned Chittagong civil surgeon Mohammed Elias Hossain. The injured included firefighters and policemen, he mentioned.

He urged all medical doctors within the district to assist deal with the state of affairs and known as for emergency blood donations.

It was not instantly clear what triggered the blaze. Hearth service officers mentioned they believe it could have originated from a container of hydrogen peroxide and unfold rapidly to different containers.

In 2020, three folks have been killed after an oil tank exploded at a container depot in Chittagong’s Patenga space.