A toxic gas leak at a Bangladesh shipbreaking yard kills at least 8 workers

DHAKA, Bangladesh - At least eight workers were killed on Friday when a suspected gas leak occurred at a shipbreaking yard in southeastern Bangladesh during the dismantling of a decommissioned vessel, according to police. Two additional workers died later after being transported from the site. The Ferdous Steel Ship Breaking Yard in Sitakunda, located in the country's northeast, saw the tragic incident.

Police inspector Mohammed Alamgir reported that two more fatalities occurred following transport to a nearby medical facility. The yard's manager has not yet provided a statement regarding the incident. Senior government factory inspection official Mahbubul Hasan indicated that toxic gas emissions from the ship were the cause of death, as confirmed by the Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.

An investigation into the cause of the gas emission and whether sufficient safety measures were in place for the workers at the yard is underway. Bangladesh's shipbreaking industry is a significant global player, accounting for about 36% of worldwide ship scrapping. There are approximately 150 registered yards along a 20-kilometer stretch of the Sitakunda coast in Chattogram, contributing around $2.46 billion annually to the economy and supplying more than half of the nation's scrap steel.

Despite its economic importance, the industry has faced criticism from environmentalists for lacking adequate safety protocols and environmental standards. Ships carrying hazardous waste from Western countries are often dismantled in Bangladesh.