The explosion that took place at Seema Oxygen Plant in Chittagong's Sitakunda upazila on Saturday afternoon, rattled neighbouring areas and engulfed them in thick black smoke.
At least six people have been reportedly killed in the fire, and dozens have been injured.
Police have so far identified five of the victims. They are Shamshul Alam, 65, Md Farid, 36, and Roton Lakhret, 45, Md Abdul Kadir, Md Salauddin, 33.
The identity of another male victim has not yet been determined.
The incident took place at around 4:30pm, and nine units from the fire service managed to douse the flames at 5:40pm.
Locals said that the massive explosion shook the surrounding area by at least two square kilometres.
Meanwhile, a worker from a nearby ready-made garments (RMG) factory “Infinia” said she heard the explosion and witnessed the sound shattering the windows of their factory.
She reported that the broken glass fell on her and caused her injury while she was working.
Redwanul Haque, a resident of Madambibir Hat, reported that he observed thick black smoke rising from the Kadmarsul area after the explosion and went to the factory by following it.
He said to have witnessed some 12 of the factory workers being rescued from the scene.
In this regard, Nurul Alam Ashek, in-charge of the hospital police outpost said, around 25 individuals have been hospitalized at the Chittagong Medical College Hospital with injuries sustained in the Sitakunda explosion.
Sultan Mahmud, the senior station officer of Kumira Fire Service Station, said they still have not figured out what caused the fire.
On June 4 last year, a deadly fire broke out BM Container Depot that claimed 51 lives, including members of the fire services, and left more than 200 people injured.
