UPDATE - Death toll in devastating Bangladesh fire rises to 34

UPDATES CASUALTIES, EDITS THROUGHOUT

By Md. Kamruzzaman

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - At least 34 people died and more than 300 others were injured as a devastating fire in Bangladesh's southern port city of Chattogram has continued to burn for more than 12 hours, an official said on Sunday

"We have a record of 34 deaths till now and more than 300 injuries. Of them, the condition of some is very critical. We have already shifted two to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and some others to capital Dhaka for better treatment," Brigadier General Md. Shamim Ahsan, director of Chattogram Medical College Hospital, told Anadolu Agency on the fire in a container depot at the port.

He added that new wounded continued to be admitted to the hospital on Sunday morning.

Those killed reportedly include seven firefighters who rushed to the scene and took part in the rescue operations.

Dozens of firefighters and police officers were also reportedly injured during rescue operations.

The state-run news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha and other local media have reported 33 killed and 400 injured.

According to the latest update from the site of the fire, 25 firefighter and civil defense units have been working to douse the blaze since Saturday night.

The fire erupted at around 11.00 p.m. local time (1700GMT) in the city's Sitakunda area.

Eyewitnesses and rescue workers said the flames started in a container and rapidly spread to others in the depot that contains more than 1,000 containers.

Many senior officials, including the city's mayor, have visited the site and vowed to uncover what caused the fire.

The authorities said, however, that the deadly conflagration had caused huge economic losses as it gutted many containers laden with chemicals and other materials in the South Asian nation's main exporting sector of the readymade garments industry.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed her condolences over the tragic incident and assured compensation to the families of the dead. She asked all concerned authorities to provide due treatment to the injured at the utmost priority.