LPG station blast in Cox’s Bazar destroys homes, injures 16

An LPG filling station blast in Cox’s Bazar left at least 16 people injured and destroyed multiple homes and vehicles, raising serious questions about energy safety compliance and regulatory oversight in Bangladesh’s liquefied petroleum gas sector. The explosion occurred in the Kolatoli area of Cox’s Bazar district town on Wednesday night.

According to Syed Muhammad Morshed, deputy assistant director of Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, the explosion took place around 10:20pm at the ‘N Alam’ LPG filling station. The blast triggered a fire that rapidly spread to nearby residential buildings. At least 10 houses adjacent to the station and between 20 and 25 tourist jeeps were gutted in the blaze.

Fire service units responded immediately after receiving reports of the incident. Firefighters, supported by personnel from the Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and local residents, brought the fire under control around 3:00 am on Thursday after nearly five hours of operation.

Health authorities confirmed that 16 people sustained burn injuries. Seven were transferred to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, while three others were sent to Dhaka for advanced treatment. Sabuktageen Mahmud Sohel, resident medical officer at Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital, said six patients are undergoing treatment locally and 10 were referred to Dhaka for specialised care.

Witnesses and fire service officials said a gas leak from the LPG station had caused a strong smell across the area for nearly three hours before the explosion, creating panic among residents. Syed Muhammad Morshed stated that the filling station did not have valid approval and that the explosion was triggered by gas leakage.

Local residents said that the area was engulfed in suffocating gas fumes before the explosion, and the fire quickly spread to the nearby Adarsha Gram and Chandrima Housing areas.

Residents blamed negligence by the station owners for the incident. Sami Uddin, officer-in-charge of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model Police Station, said the situation is now under control and law enforcement personnel have been deployed at the scene to maintain order.

Fire service officials confirmed that legal action will be taken against the owners of the unauthorised LPG filling station. The incident highlights growing safety concerns in Bangladesh’s expanding LPG distribution network, particularly regarding compliance, licensing and enforcement of energy regulations.