Two people were injured when a vulcanising air tank exploded at a garage in Mirsarai upazila of Chattogram on Tuesday morning.

The injured were identified as Yunus, 35, and garage owner Emon Hossain, 25. Of the two, Yunus sustained serious injuries and was admitted to Bartakia Radiance Hospital and Diagnostic Centre. Doctors said that he suffered injuries to his eyes, face and other parts of his body.

The incident took place at about 9:00am at Bartakia Bazar beside the Dhaka-Chattogram highway, near the entrance to the Mirsarai Economic Zone, police said.

According to local people, the tank exploded while air was being pumped into it at a tyre repair shop. The force of the explosion sent the tank about 50 feet into the air before it fell onto the shop. The tank split into two, damaging the garage and an adjacent shop.

The explosion produced a loud blast that was heard and felt across an area of nearly one kilometre, triggering panic among local residents and traders.

Local trader Alamgir Hossain said that he opened his shop at about 9:30am, while Emon had opened his garage earlier and switched on the air compressor.

‘After a while, there was a huge explosion and everything around us shook. It was a terrifying situation. The 200-litre air tank exploded and damaged goods in my shop,’ he said.

Mirsarai police station officer-in-charge Farida Yasmin said police immediately sent a team to the spot after receiving information about the explosion.

‘Two people were injured in the incident. They are undergoing treatment,’ she said.