Death Toll Rises to 5 in Sitakunda Shipbreaking Yard Toxic Gas Leak

The death toll from a toxic gas leak at Ferdous Steel Shipbreaking Yard in Sitakunda, Chattogram, has risen to five, according to official sources.

In-charge of the Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH) Police Outpost, Nurul Alam Ashek, confirmed the fatalities, adding that several other workers were injured in the incident.

The accident occurred around 10:00 AM on Friday (August 14) during routine housekeeping work inside a ship at the yard.

Nurul Alam Ashek stated that six workers were brought to CMCH from Sitakunda, where attending doctors declared five of them dead by 12:30 PM. The remaining injured worker was admitted to the ward for treatment.

Ferdous Wahed, Managing Director of Ferdous Steel, said the yard's safety team first noticed gas emanating from a tank. When safety team members went to inspect the leak, several workers were affected and subsequently rushed to the hospital.

While Wahed initially confirmed three fatalities, he expressed apprehension that the death toll could rise further.

Meanwhile, Mahbubul Hasan, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), reported receiving information that 10 workers had been injured in the incident.