2022 Sitakunda fire
On the night of 4 June 2022, a fire and subsequent explosions at a container depot in Sitakunda Upazila, Chittagong District, Bangladesh killed at least 47 people and injured around 450 others.
| Date | 4 June 2022 to 7 June 2022 |
|---|---|
| Time | Start of fire: ~21:00 BST (15:00 UTC) First explosion: ~23:45 BST (17:45 UTC) |
| Location | BM Container Depot, Kadamrasul area, Sitakunda Upazila, Chittagong District, Bangladesh |
| Coordinates | 22.4550°N 91.7375°E |
| Type | Fire and explosions |
| Deaths | ≥47 |
| Non-fatal injuries | ~450 |
| External images | |
|---|---|
| A firefighter facing the fire at night | |
| Fighting the fire the next day | |
| The fire as seen from a distance | |
| A victim being transported to hospital |
The incident occurred at BM Container Depot in the Kadamrasul area of Sitakunda Upazila. After a fire started in the loading area at around 21:00 BST (15:00 UTC), a massive explosion occurred at around 23:45 BST (17:45 UTC), triggering more explosions that spread across the depot caused by ignition of chemicals stored in the containers. The force of the explosions affected buildings several kilometres away, and one witness stated that the explosions caused a rain of fireballs.
The head of Bangladesh's fire service stated that there was hydrogen peroxide in the depot which prevented the fire from being controlled. The following afternoon, the fire was still burning and explosions were still being heard. The army had also joined efforts to fight the fire. The fire was finally brought under control and ended on the afternoon of 7 June 2022.