Rescue workers and firefighters have gathered at the outskirts of Chittagong, Bangladesh after an explosion at an oxygen plant resulted in at least six deaths and several injuries on March 4, 2023. (AFP via Getty Images)
An explosion at an oxygen plant in southeastern Bangladesh has led to the death of six people and several others being injured, as confirmed by authorities on March 4, 2023. Officials said that the death toll could possibly rise as rescue operations are still ongoing at the Sitakunda plant, located at a distance of 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the southeastern port city of Chittagong.
The reason for the explosion at the plant that led to the outbreak of the fire was not immediately known, according to a fire service official.
“Six bodies were retrieved from the site,” said local government official Shahadat Hossain, adding that rescue operations were still underway.
Police official Nayhanul Bari, quoting witnesses, confirmed that a loud noise was heard which shook an area with a radius of up to two kilometers.
Last year in June, a massive fire at a container depot in the same area killed almost 50 people and injured nearly 200 individuals.