At least 12 firefighters have died while trying to douse a fire at an inland container depot in Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong.

The death toll from the explosion at BM Container Depot has risen to 49, and of them, 12 are fire service personnel, said Chittagong Deputy Commissioner Md Mominur Rahman.

Meanwhile, Divisional Fire Service Deputy Director Anisur Rahman said authorities managed to identify 9 bodies of the slain firemen.

“15 of our men are currently undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH),” he added.

Bodies of Nipon Chakma, Mithu Dewan, Emran Hossain Sujan, Rana Mia, Moniruzzaman, Alauddin, Shakil Tarafdar, Ramzanul Islam, Salah Uddin Quader Chowdhury, Md Rabiul Islam, Fariduzzaman, and Shafiul Alam have been identified so far, CMCH Police Outpost Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Alauddin.

At least 450 people were injured in the fire that started on Saturday night. The massive fire was brought under control after 25 hours, following the frantic efforts of firefighters.

Around 25 units of the Fire Service and Civil Defence were reportedly working on the scene, while around 250 members of the Bangladesh Army army joined the rescue operations.

Three probe panels, including a nine-member local administration committee, were formed on Sunday to probe the incident.