Toxic gas leak kills eight at Bangladesh shipyard

At least eight workers were killed and five others were reported missing after toxic gas leaked from a vessel at a shipbreaking yard in Bangladesh on Friday.

The incident occurred at the Ferdous Steel Shipbreaking Yard and Recycling Factory in Chittagong, a major hub for ship dismantling on the country’s southeastern coast. Witnesses said they heard cries from inside the facility before fellow workers rushed several affected employees to nearby hospitals.

Police said eight people had died while a search operation was underway for those still unaccounted for. Authorities have formed an investigation committee to determine the cause of the accident and ordered a safety audit of the shipbreaking facility.

Officials said the vessel involved had previously been used to transport liquefied natural gas. Although the yard was reportedly classified as a compliant facility, fire service officials raised concerns about whether proper safety procedures had been followed before dismantling work began.

According to fire service officials, vessels must be completely cleared of hazardous gases before workers begin cutting them apart. They said workers who were closest to the gas leak died, while others farther from the affected area survived.

Firefighters recovered three bodies from the site and rescued several workers who were found unconscious. The injured were transported to hospitals for treatment.

The shipbreaking industry along Chittagong’s coast stretches for around 25 kilometres and provides employment to tens of thousands of people. Bangladesh is one of the world’s major shipbreaking centres, but the industry has repeatedly faced criticism over workplace safety, labour conditions and environmental risks.

One of the workers killed in the accident was identified as Palash Jaladas. His family was left devastated by the tragedy, with relatives saying his wife, Bhoumika Jaladas, is eight months pregnant.