A fire broke out in a container yard near Chittagong, Bangladesh late last night, causing a huge chemical explosion and causing serious casualties.
In the middle of the night on June 4, a fire broke out at the Sitakunda container yard, about 40 kilometers away from Chittagong in southern Bangladesh. There are about 4,000 shipping containers, many filled with clothing destined for Western retail stores.
The fire caused the container containing chemicals to explode. Firefighters, volunteers and media reporters were unable to escape and were caught in the flames. Some people and debris were thrown into the air, and the night sky changed. into a fiery orange color. The force of the explosion shook buildings kilometers away.
About 90% of Bangladesh’s annual exports of about $100 billion, including clothing from H&M, Walmart and other companies, are shipped through Chittagong. The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) said that the fire burned approximately US$110 million in clothing, causing considerable losses.
