A massive fire broke out in the cargo section of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Bangladesh’s capital on Saturday, forcing authorities to suspend all flight operations and landings, Anadolu Agency reported, citing local broadcasters.
Thick plumes of smoke engulfed the area, particularly around the cargo section where imported goods were stored.
According to the Bangladesh Fire Service Media Center, 36 fire units were deployed to the scene to battle the blaze, with an additional five units sent to assist in the operation.
The Bangladesh Army, Air Force, and Navy also joined the firefighting efforts, along with two platoons from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB).
Local TV reports said several people, including firefighters, were injured during rescue operations.
As of now, the cause of the fire and the total number of injuries remain unknown. Channel24 quoted a security guard as saying that a large amount of clothing and other goods had been stored in the area.
Explosions from several chemical containers were also heard, which caused the flames to spread rapidly.
The airport fire comes just days after two other major blazes were reported earlier in the week — one at a garment factory in Mirpur, Dhaka, that killed at least 16 people, and another at a factory in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone.
