DHAKA, March 7 (Portal) – An explosion at a crowded market area in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka on Tuesday killed at least 15 people and injured several others, a local fire department official said.
The blast occurred in a seven-story building and caused severe damage on two floors, the official added.
“There were several shops selling sanitary ware and housewares. A bus parked on the opposite side of the building was also damaged in the blast,” said fire official Dinomoni Sharma.
The cause of the blast is unclear, Sharma said, adding that the death toll could rise as rescue efforts are underway.
[1/5] Firefighters and rescue workers are seen at the scene of an explosion at a multi-story building in Dhaka, Bangladesh March 7, 2023. Portal/Mohammad Ponir Hossain
Images from the scene showed extensive damage to the building and nearby structures, with items that were once in the shops piling up in the street. Some pedestrians were injured by falling debris and broken glass.
Kamal Ahmed, who was among those injured in the blast, told local media he was shopping on the sidewalk when he heard a loud bang.
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“When I heard the noise, I fell down. Then I saw smoke covering the whole area. There are no buildings to be seen. All people are running away,” he said.
It follows the deaths of three people in an explosion in Dhaka on Sunday
Three people were killed in a suspected gas explosion in Dhaka on Sunday. On Saturday, seven people were killed and several injured when a fire broke out after an explosion at an oxygen plant in southeast Bangladesh.
Reporting by Ruma Paul; Writing Sakshi Dayal; Edited by Andrew Heavens and Alex Richardson
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