Fifteen people were killed in an explosion in a crowded market in the Bangladeshi capital

DHAKA (Reuters) – At least 15 people were killed and several others injured in an explosion in a crowded market area in the capital, Dhaka, on Tuesday, a local fire service official said.

The official added that the blast occurred inside a seven-storey building, causing severe damage to two floors.

“There were several shops selling sanitary and household items. A bus parked on the other side of the building was damaged in the blast,” said Dhinomuni Sharma, an official with the fire service.

The cause of the explosion is not clear, Sharma said, adding that the death toll may rise as rescue operations continue.

Pictures from the scene showed severe damage to the building and nearby buildings, with objects that were inside the shops piling up on the street. Some passers-by were injured by falling debris and broken glass.

Kamal Ahmed, who was among those injured in the blast, told local media that he was shopping on the sidewalk when he heard a loud bang.

“When I heard the sound, I fell. Then I saw smoke covering the entire area. No buildings were visible. All people were running,” he said.

This comes in the wake of the killing of three people in an explosion in Dhaka on Sunday

On Sunday, three were killed in a suspected gas explosion in Dhaka. Seven people were killed and several others injured Saturday when a fire broke out following an explosion at an oxygen plant in southeastern Bangladesh.

(Reporting by Romy Paul). Written by Sakshi Dayal. Editing by Andrew Heavens and Alex Richardson

Our standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.