Dhaka/

An explosion occurred near the BRTC counter in Gulistan of the capital. 16 people have been killed so far. Hundreds were injured. 11 fire service units are working on the spot. This incident happened around 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Rashedin Khaled, the duty officer of the control room of the fire service, said that he received information about the explosion at 4:50 pm. At 4:57 p.m., the first unit of the fire service arrived at the scene. Brigadier General Director of Dhaka Medical in this incident. Nazmul Haque confirmed that 16 people were killed.

He said that among the injured, more than half a hundred people have been taken to Dhaka Medical College (DMC) Hospital. 11 of them were taken dead. Besides, 5 more people died after going to the hospital. Among the dead are two women and 14 men. Their details were not immediately known.

According to the fire service, a 5-storey building on the south side of the Gulistan BRTC counter and another 7-storey building next to it were damaged. But none of the buildings collapsed. There was a sanitary shop on the ground floor of the seven storied building. A few floors above it is the office of BRAC Bank. Several floors were damaged in the blast.

Fire service has so far rescued 8 people alive. 5 ambulances are at the scene.

Fire service calls for blood donation in urgent need. Those interested in donating blood are requested to visit the emergency department of DMK Hospital.