Toxic Gas Leak at Chattogram Shipyard Claims 5 Lives

A toxic gas leak at a ship recycling yard in Chattogram’s Sitakunda has claimed five lives and left eight others injured.

The incident occurred Friday morning at Ferdaus Steel Ship Recycling Industries in Bhatiary, Sitakunda, according to the shipyard’s Managing Director Ferdaus Wahid. The injured workers were taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for treatment.

Chattogram Superintendent of Police Mahamuda Begum said there was no explosion, clarifying that the deaths were caused by toxic gas exposure.

Workers and officials said labourers were conducting housekeeping work aboard a vessel when they noticed gas leaking from a tank. Several workers approached the tank but lost consciousness after inhaling the gas. They were subsequently rescued and rushed to hospital.

Mohammad Mahbubul Hasan, Deputy Inspector General of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, confirmed that the casualties resulted from the toxic gas leak.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the leak and whether adequate safety measures were in place to protect workers.