Fire officials suspect the blaze may have begun in a container of hydrogen peroxide and spread quickly to other containers, Reuters reported.
Bangladesh has a patchy industrial safety record, and fires are not uncommon. A flurry of tragedies a decade ago shined a spotlight on the country’s ready-made garment industry and the lax enforcement of safety rules. Exports, especially the garment industry, are the backbone of Bangladesh’s cash-strapped economy.
Although steps have been taken to improve the situation for the many thousands of factory workers, there were still more than 21,000 fire-related incidents in 2020, according to the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defense.
At least 52 workers were killed last year in a fire at a food and beverage factory, which the International Labor Organization said highlighted the “urgent need” for authorities and building owners to ensure that workplaces are built and operated in compliance with national fire safety codes.
Rescue workers including firefighters and police officers were among those killed in Saturday’s blaze, witnesses told Reuters. The fire triggered a huge explosion and rapidly spread, with chemical-filled containers combusting one after another.
Images from the scene showed upturned and burned-out containers and debris scattered over the ground as firefighters worked through Sunday to contain the blaze. Drone footage showed flames still smoldering across the container depot and thick smoke rising into the air.
Azad Majumdar in Dhaka, Bangladesh, contributed to this report.