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Bangladeshi Christians help victims of explosion in warehouse

Fire-fighters rescue people trapped in an explosion of a warehouse in Chittagong, on June 4, 2022. (Photo supplied)

A group of Christian youth in Bangladesh joined to help victims of an explosion in a warehouse in Chittagong.

At least 49 people were dead and over 300 injured in the explosion on June 4 in a container depot in Sitakunda, about 40 kilometers from the key port of Chittagong, in south-eastern Bangladesh.

The tragedy caused by the fire claimed the lives of nine fire-fighters among other victims. 

The company that owns the warehouse did not state whether chemicals were stored inside.

“The fire has not been put out completely but there is no risk of further explosions as our team has sorted out the chemical containers one by one," a senior fire service official Monir Hossain told Reuters. 

In the aftermath of the tragedy, many people tried to help the people affected by it. 

Peter Mrong, a Christian student from the University of Chittagong said, "I tried my best to help the injured and victims on that night.”

"It was my pathetic experience during that time. My friends and I saw people crying and shouting help them because they look for blood donation urgently,” said Mrong. 

According to him, his other friends were willing to help the injured and victims during this incident.

One of the Christian garment workers in Chittagong said, "They raised funds and continue to collect the money to help the injured and victims. After fundraising, we provided some food to the injured people.”

The tragedy was caused by the fire. It was reportedly said that the manager of BM Container Depot did not immediately call the fire brigade, who intervened only after receiving calls from the residents around 9 in the evening (local time).

Brigadier General Main Uddin said, "It had never happened that so many fire-fighters died in a single accident. The victims of the explosion, some in critical condition, are hospitalized in various hospitals in Chattogram and Dhaka.”  

During the visit to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mominur Rahman declared, “The district administration will provide financial assistance of 520 Euros to the families of the dead persons and 260 Euros to the injured.”

“The Ministry of Labor and Employment will provide 2,083 Euros to the families of the victims, while the Ministry of Disasters and Relief has allocated 10 million takas in cash," said Mominur Rahman. - Nikhil Gomes  

 

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