An eyewitness stated that the explosion "sent fireballs in[to] the sky" that then fell "like rain", and that one piece of debris flew about half a kilometre (0.3 mi) from the location of the fire to near where he was.[12] One victim stated that he was standing inside the depot when the explosion threw him about 10 metres (30 ft), and that his hands and legs were burnt.[12] The main explosion was reportedly heard from 30 to 40 km (20 to 25 mi) away.[6] Many Bangladeshis compared this explosion to the 2020 Beirut explosion.[6]