Toxic Gas Leak at Sitakunda Shipbreaking Yard Leaves Eight Dead
Photo Collected
The death toll from a toxic gas leak at a ship-breaking yard in Sitakunda, Chittagong, has risen to eight. The incident occurred Friday morning at Ferdous Steel, located in the Station Road area of Bhatiary Union, following the accidental rupture of a gas cylinder on a scrapped vessel.
Medical officials at Chittagong Medical College Hospital confirmed that six individuals were declared dead upon arrival, while two additional bodies were recovered from the site of the accident. Sitakunda Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Md. Alamgir confirmed the recovery of the two bodies remaining at the facility. Hospital physician Ishtiaq Rahman stated that one survivor is currently receiving medical treatment.
Authorities have identified four of the deceased as Sunny Jaldas, 22; Palash Jaldas, 27; and brothers Mansur Ali, 40, and Nasir Uddin, 38. All four victims were local residents of the Bhatiary area.
According to Taufiqul Islam, Assistant Director of the Chittagong Fire Service, the emergency response was triggered by a call to the 999 national helpline. Preliminary investigations suggest the vessel being dismantled at the yard was a former Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanker. Officials noted that such vessels must undergo a rigorous gas-freeing process before dismantling begins to remove hazardous substances such as fluorine, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. Taufiqul Islam attributed the catastrophe to the facility’s failure to properly decontaminate the vessel’s tanks and cited inadequate safety protocols for the laborers.
The gas leak caused significant disruption in the surrounding area. Local fishermen reported an overpowering odor emanating from the facility, forcing them to dock their vessels nearly half a kilometer away to avoid the toxic fumes.
Following news of the deaths, local residents staged a protest, entering the factory premises and causing damage to the property, alleging negligence by the management. Law enforcement officials were deployed to the site to restore order.
Md. Mohiuddin, a representative for the factory owner, stated that he was off-site at the time of the incident but had been informed that several workers were exposed to the gas due to improper handling. He indicated that a detailed investigation into the management’s role is pending.
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