While rescue workers and doctors were giving it their all on Saturday night following the deadly blast at an oxygen plant in Sitakunda, Chittagong, some people were spreading rumours about the death toll on social media.
The death toll rose to six late Saturday and the authorities had identified five of them as of 11pm.
However, in a Facebook group, "Share Basis Tour,” one Rupom Majumder claimed that 65 families and their homes had been burnt to ashes in the explosion.
The Facebook user also alleged that last year's BM Container Depot fire had claimed the lives of thousands, when in reality the June 4, 2022 fire and explosion took the lives of 51 people and injured over 200.
Many others on the social media platform copied and modified the post before reposting it.
Md Abdul Hamid Miah, deputy assistant director of the Fire Service, the sheds and walls of several buildings had been blown away in the shockwave of the explosion, but the rumours of 26 people being killed and 65 homes being destroyed were false.
"According to the information we have, six bodies have been discovered and 33 people are injured. There is no chance of finding any additional bodies. There is no missing-person report... We are still conducting our search and rescue operations," he added.
Meanwhile, some also hindered the treatment of the injured as they thronged the hospital to stream the proceedings live on social media and take photos.
Earlier in the day, a massive fire broke out at the oxygen plant following an explosion in the Kadam Rasul (Keshabpur) area of Sitakunda.
Officials said 18 people had been admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital.
The explosion at Seema Oxygen Plant took place at around 4:30pm. Nine firefighting units managed to douse the flames in an hour.
The blast rattled neighbouring areas and engulfed them in thick black smoke.
Locals said the massive explosion had shaken at least two square kilometres of the surrounding area.
Sultan Mahmud, senior station officer of Kumira Fire Service Station, said the cause of the fire had yet to be determined.