Toxic Gas Leak Kills Seven at Sitakunda Shipbreaking Yard

The death toll from a catastrophic toxic gas leak at a shipbreaking facility in Sitakunda, Chattogram, has risen to seven, following a sudden chemical discharge aboard a vessel under demolition.

The incident occurred at approximately 9:00 am on Friday, 14 August, at the Ferdous Steel Ship Breaking Yard, situated along the Bhatiari coastal strip. Emergency responders and law enforcement personnel rushed to the scene as word of the subterranean gas accumulation spread throughout the industrial belt.

The vessel involved in the tragedy was an offshore scrap liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker anchored at the yard. According to preliminary reports, a sealed storage tank within the vessel suffered a sudden breach, releasing a concentrated cloud of toxic gas into the immediate vicinity.

Public Confusion and Outbreak of Local Anger

In the immediate aftermath of the leak, surrounding residents gathered near the shoreline after hearing reports of an emergency aboard the vessel. Mohammad Yusuf, the manager of Ferdous Steel Ship Yard, stated that the facility was officially closed for the weekly holiday when the leak developed within the scrap tanker’s hull.

Management claimed that curious members of the public approaching the vessel were overcome by the stagnant gas pockets. However, local authorities and rescue personnel are investigating the exact sequence of events to determine whether victims were external onlookers or yard personnel working on maintenance tasks.

News of the casualties sparked severe anger among local residents. A crowd numbering over one hundred people entered the facility premises shortly after the incident, engaging in acts of vandalism and damaging machinery. Opportunistic individuals reportedly looted equipment and property from the site before security forces managed to secure the area.

Emergency Rescue Efforts and Ongoing Investigation

Emergency service personnel from the Kumira Fire Service Station launched an immediate recovery operation to extract individuals trapped within the gas-filled compartments of the ship. Al Mamun, in charge of the Kumira Fire Service Station, confirmed that search and rescue teams continue to work inside the vessel to locate any remaining victims.

The Inspector of Investigation at Sitakunda Police Station, Md Alamgir Hossain, confirmed that seven deaths have been officially recorded so far, warning that the casualty count could increase as search teams clear the lower decks.

Sitakunda Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Fakhrul Islam confirmed the fatality count reported by police, adding that an official administrative inquiry will determine the exact structural cause of the breach and evaluate safety compliance at the yard.

The Sitakunda coast remains one of the largest shipbreaking hubs in South Asia, where workers frequently dismantle decommissioned ocean vessels under hazardous conditions. Authorities have deployed additional police contingents across the Bhatiari area to maintain order and prevent further civil unrest while recovery operations proceed.