The death toll in a Bangladesh mosque gas explosion rises to 24

The death toll from a gas explosion in a mosque outside Dhaka, has risen to 24 on Sunday while authorities were examining how a leakage caused the accident during Friday evening prayers.

The explosion, which fire service officials suspect was caused by leakage from the pipeline in the mosque in Narayanganj district on Friday night, also injured dozens with critical burns as worshippers were about to end their prayers.

Dozens were rushed to Dhaka’s state-run specialised burn and plastic-surgery hospital, most of them with severe burns. Doctors were treating at least 37 people with burns on up to 90 per cent of their bodies.

Fire officials said gas that accumulated from a leak in a pipeline running underneath the mosque likely triggered the explosion.

“We primarily suspect that gas leaked from the pipeline and accumulated inside the mosque since the windows were shut. When the air conditioners was turned on, the gas could have exploded,” said Abdullah Al Arefin, a senior fire service official.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/09/killed-bangladesh-mosque-gas-pipeline-blast-200905072009767.html