Dhaka, Feb. 12 -- Four individuals have suffered severe burns after a barrel exploded aboard a fuel tanker navigating the Kirtankhola River in Barishal.

Medical officials said the victims suffered burns covering 60 percent of their bodies.

The explosion occurred on Wednesday afternoon as the vessel was transporting oil from the Jamuna depot in the city's Trish Godown area, according to Helal Uddin Khan, assistant director at the Barishal Fire Service.

The injured are being treated at Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barishal. Three of them are residents of Noakhali's Hatia Upazila - Rubel, Manna, and Sampad - all identified by their single names.

According to Helal, the tanker had departed for Hatia after collecting fuel from...