CHITTAGONG — Eight workers died after inhaling toxic gas while dismantling a decommissioned ship at a shipbreaking yard in southeastern Bangladesh, authorities said, with several other workers injured and an investigation under way.
The incident occurred at the Ferdous Steel Ship Breaking Yard in Sitakunda, in the Chattogram district, according to police and local officials cited by the Associated Press. Six workers were initially reported dead, while two others died after being taken for medical treatment, bringing the confirmed death toll to eight.
Authorities suspect the workers were exposed to toxic gases released inside the vessel during dismantling operations. The precise substance involved and the circumstances that allowed the gas to accumulate were not immediately established, and officials said an investigation would examine the source of the leak and whether required safety measures were followed.
The accident adds to a long record of workplace deaths and injuries in Bangladesh's shipbreaking industry, concentrated along the coast near Sitakunda. Government records list Ferdous Steel Ship Recycling Industries among the country's ship-recycling facilities.
The industry supplies a significant share of Bangladesh's scrap steel and has undergone efforts to improve safety and environmental standards. Fourteen ship-recycling facilities in Bangladesh had been certified as compliant with the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships by 2025, according to the Bangladesh Ship Recycling Board. Ferdous Steel was among the facilities listed as compliant.
The latest deaths again highlight the risks associated with dismantling vessels that can contain hazardous substances, including trapped gases and residues. Shipbreaking operations can expose workers to toxic gases, explosions, fires, falling materials and other industrial hazards.
Authorities had not publicly established whether negligence or violations of workplace safety rules contributed to the latest deaths. The investigation is expected to determine the cause of the gas release and whether the yard complied with applicable safety requirements.
The death toll stood at eight, with several other workers reported injured, as authorities continued their investigation into the incident.
