49 dead in Bangladesh container explosion

On the evening of June 4, a fire broke out in an inland container yard near Chittagong port in southeastern Bangladesh and caused an explosion
.
Local media and officials said the fire killed at least 49 people and injured more than 100
.
The cause of the fire could not be immediately determined
.

Xinhua reported that local officials said the container yard that caught fire was located in Hidagonda Township, 40 kilometers from Chittagong Port, and was operated by a Dutch-Bangladesh joint venture
.
There are about 4,000 containers in the yard, some of which contain chemicals
.

A container containing hydrogen peroxide caught fire and then spread to containers containing sulfur and other chemicals, causing multiple explosions
.
The explosion could be felt 4 kilometers away, and the glass of buildings around the container yard was shattered
.

After the fire broke out, firefighters and soldiers rushed to the scene to put out the fire
.
Another 250 soldiers were deployed to contain the spilled chemicals with sandbags to prevent them from flowing into the sea
.

According to Ekattor TV, as of the evening of the 5th, the death toll had reached 49 and more than 100 were injured, and the death toll may climb as rescue work unfolds
.
 

In recent years, serious industrial disasters in Bangladesh have occurred from time to time
.
In 2010, at least 123 people were killed in a fire at a house where chemicals were illegally stored in the old city of Dhaka
.

What are the safety measures for the storage of hazardous chemicals in summer?

1.
The storage warehouse should be qualified

Hazardous chemical warehouses should use non-conductive refractory materials as insulation layers on the roof and walls, and the eaves should be properly lengthened to prevent sunlight from entering the warehouse; the warehouse walls should be properly thickened, windows should be opened frequently, indirect ventilation holes should be used, and Double doors, double roof; window panes painted blue or frosted glass
.

2.
Hazardous chemicals should be classified and stored

Hazardous chemicals should be classified, stored in separate warehouses, separated into pieces, and stored on separate shelves.
It is strictly forbidden to mix items that conflict with each other, have different fire fighting methods, and are likely to cause spontaneous combustion
.

When storing items, the stacking should not be too high, too large, or too dense.
A certain distance should be maintained between stacks, between stacks and walls, columns, roof beams, and electric lights, and fire escapes should be reserved, and excessive storage should not be allowed
.

3.
To strictly control the temperature

Set up a water storage roof for the warehouse or set a cooling water pipe on the warehouse roof, spray water to cool down when the temperature is above 30 ℃, and keep the temperature in the warehouse below 28 ℃
.

Laying stone sacks on the roof of the warehouse can increase the thermal insulation performance of the roof, and the roof, exterior walls and window glass of the warehouse can also be painted white to reduce the absorption of radiant heat and achieve the effect of cooling
.

According to the nature and packaging of the items, well water and ice cubes can also be poured on the warehouse floor, and air conditioners can be installed to cool down
.
In some warehouses, windows can be opened in the morning and at night to let in cold air, and doors and windows can be closed at noon to prevent hot air from entering
.

4.
Take cooling measures for open storage yards and storage tanks

Flammable liquids in barrels should be placed in buildings to prevent direct sunlight
.
In special cases, if it needs to be temporarily stored in the open air, the sunshade should be built with non-combustible materials, and sometimes a leather pipe should be sprayed regularly to cool down
.

A cooling device should be installed on the top of the storage tank.
When the temperature reaches above 30 °C, the cooling water pump should be turned on for spray cooling
.
The storage tank should not be too full, and 5% to 10% of the volume space should be reserved, so as to prevent the hazardous chemicals in the barrel from being heated and expanding and causing combustion or explosion accidents
.

5.
Have lightning protection facilities

Hazardous chemical warehouses are generally located at the edge of the unit or city, keeping a certain distance from other surrounding buildings, so that an open area is formed around the warehouse, which is vulnerable to lightning strikes
.
Therefore, the warehouse should install lightning protection devices to prevent fire accidents caused by lightning strikes
.

6.
Strengthen personnel management

Personnel who manage hazardous chemical warehouses must undergo safety training, pass the examination, and hold certificates
.
Warehouse management personnel should regularly inspect the warehouse, find problems and solve them in time to ensure safety
.