2 firefighters suffer 100% burns, six injured in Tongi chemical warehouse fire
The fire is now largely under control, but the cause and the full extent of the damage remain unknown, officials say
Six individuals, including three firefighters, were injured while responding to a fire at a chemical warehouse at Sahara Market in Bscic Industrial City in Gazipur's Tongi this afternoon (22 September).
Of the injured, four have been identified as firefighters Md Shamim, Md Nurul Huda, Md Joy Hasan and warehouse inspector Khondokar Jannatun Naim.
Nurul Huda (40) and Shamim Ahmed (42) suffered burns on 100% of their bodies, said Dr Shawon Bin Rahman, resident surgeon at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery.
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Khondokar Jannatun Naim (38) and Joy Hasan (24) suffered 42% and 5% burns respectively, he added.
Abdul Mannan, deputy assistant director of Fire Service (Dhaka Zone-3), said the fire is now largely under control, but the cause and the full extent of the damage remain unknown.
The fire originated at a tin-shed chemical warehouse of a garment factory around 3pm.
Witnesses said people inside the warehouse ran out as the fire broke out.
Upon receiving information, fire service personnel rushed to the scene at 3:45pm.
Suddenly, a massive explosion rocked the warehouse, injuring six people — including a factory official, four firefighters, and a fire service officer.
All of them were rescued and taken to a hospital in Dhaka for treatment.
The fire was later brought under control at around 7pm.
A unit under the 6th Independent AD Brigade of the Bangladesh Army joined the rescue operation along with the fire service.
The army personnel also played an active role in ensuring the overall security of the godown area, controlling traffic and public gatherings, and increasing the speed of rescue operations, the army said in a statement.
