At least nine people were injured in a fire at the depot of state-run Jamuna Oil Company Limited in Chittagong city’s Patenga area yesterday evening.
The injured were Hasan, 50, Shamsu, 45, Jobi, 45, Jamshed, 45, Najim, 40, Jamal, 45, Rahim, 45, Lokman, 55, and Khayer, 50, were admitted into burn unit of Chittagong Medical College Hospital, said Sub-Inspector Jahirul Islam, in-charge of CMCH police camp.
All were employees of the depot, said Alim Uddin Ahmed, managing director of Jamuna Oil Company Limited.
Station Officer Mohammad Baharuddin of EPZ Fire Station told the Dhaka Tribune that the fire had originated at number 11 oil tank of the depot during wielding work in the tank. Sparks during the wielding had started the fire in the octane tank around 6:20pm and soon engulfed two other adjoining grounds, leaving nine people burnt.
Receiving information, two fire fighting units from EPZ Fire Station went to the spot and doused the fire around 6:40pm, he said.
The company’s managing director said the fire was not strong as there was no octane in the tank. The tanks walls were wet by the octane it contained before and that was why the fire had originated from wielding sparks.
The damage could not yet be estimated by the authorities concerned till filing of this report.