At least nine people were injured after a fire broke out following an explosion at a newly built gas station in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday night.

The incident occurred around 10pm at a newly constructed station named N Alam in the Kalatali Adarshagram area of the town.

According to locals, panic had gripped the neighbourhood for several hours before the explosion due to a gas leak.

The identities of the injured could not be confirmed immediately.

The victims were taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital for treatment. One of the injured was reported to be in critical condition.

Witnesses said gas began leaking from the station around 7pm and continued to spread in the air for nearly three hours, covering surrounding areas. An estimated one-kilometre stretch was filled with gas before a loud blast occurred around 10pm.

The explosion triggered fires at several points of the station and spread to two nearby houses and other structures.

Nearly 20,000 people live in the adjoining Adarshagram, Chandrima Housing and Jail areas. 

The local administration said people were quickly evacuated from the affected area and public announcements were being made to prevent residents from lighting fires nearby. Traffic on Kalatali Road—one of the main entry points to the town—was suspended, causing suffering for passengers travelling to and from Dhaka and Chittagong.

Several local residents, including Rafiqul Bolom and Saiful Islam, alleged that no effective action was taken despite the gas leak continuing for a long time. 

Syed Muhammad Morshed Hossain, deputy assistant director of Fire Service and Civil Defence, Cox’s Bazar Office, said the spread of liquefied petroleum gas had created a high risk of explosion.

“Multiple fire service units are working to bring the situation under control by evacuating people and attempting to stop the gas leak,” he said.

Officer-in-Charge Sami Uddin of Cox’s Bazar Sadar Model police station said police rushed to the scene immediately after receiving information.

“We are keeping onlookers at a safe distance and coordinating with other agencies to minimise losses,” he said.