At least three workers have died and several others were injured after toxic gas leaked from a tank of a scrap vessel at the Ferdous Steel Shipbreaking Yard in Sitakunda, Chattogram.
The accident occurred on Friday morning while workers were carrying out their duties at the yard.
Ferdous Steel Managing Director Ferdous Wahid confirmed the incident. He said several members of the yard’s safety team went to inspect a tank after noticing gas leaking from a vessel.
The gas suddenly spread, leaving several workers seriously ill at the scene, he said.
“The injured workers were rescued and rushed to hospital. So far, we have received reports of three deaths,” Ferdous Wahid said.
He said the exact number of injured workers could not immediately be confirmed and expressed concern that the death toll could rise.
Meanwhile, Mahbubul Hasan, deputy inspector general of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) in Chattogram, said they had received information that 10 workers were injured in the accident.
He said the death of one worker had been confirmed initially, while authorities were trying to determine the latest condition of the others.
Relevant authorities have launched an investigation into how the toxic gas leaked from the tank and whether adequate safety measures were in place at the shipbreaking yard to protect workers.
