Chemical-filled container caches fire at Chattogram port
An explosion took place in a chemical-filled container at the Chattogram port yard on Saturday, causing a subsequent fire.
Later, the firefighters extinguished the blaze quickly, with no reported casualties.
Omar Faruk, secretary of the sea-port, told The Business Standard that the incident took place around 8am when the container – filled with sodium carbonate, a chemical used as oxygen supplement - was kept at the yard-8 of the port.
"An explosion took place inside the container due to the excessive temperature," he said, adding that the chemical was not that much flammable.
Newton Das, deputy assistant director of the Fire Service and Civil Defense, said a firefighting unit, with four vehicles, rushed to the spot on information and brought the fire under control after around 1:15 hours of hectic efforts.
"The container was full of sodium carbonate. It caught fire after the explosion. The reason behind the fire and extent of damage will be ascertained through investigation," added the Fire Service official.
Port officials said a company named Non-Animal Health Products Limited imported the container. It reached the Chattogram port from China on 9 May.
Earlier, a fire was reported in a shed for storing goods inside the port on 15 July last year.