Published : 14 Aug 2026, 10:38 PM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:32 AM
The death toll from a suspected toxic gas leak at a shipbreaking yard in Chattogram’s Sitakunda has risen to eight, while several others remain injured.
Md Alamgir, inspector (investigation) at Sitakunda Police Station, told bdnews24.com that two more bodies were found at the yard and sent to Chattogram Medical College Hospital around 2:30pm, after six deaths had already been confirmed there.
"Some of the injured were taken to other hospitals before we arrived. We can't yet confirm the total number of injured," he said.
The incident occurred on Friday morning at Ferdous Steel Ship Breaking Yard, while workers were carrying out housekeeping duties aboard a docked vessel.
They approached the ship after spotting gas escaping from one of its tanks, and several collapsed before being rushed to hospital.
Ishtiaque Rahman, a physician at the hospital's emergency department, earlier said seven workers had been brought in, of whom six had died, with one still under treatment.
"We've heard an explosion occurred while the ship was being cut.”
The bodies, he added, showed signs of blast injuries alongside effects consistent with gas inhalation.
Ferdous Wahid, managing director of the yard, told bdnews24.com that Friday was a weekly holiday and no ship-cutting work was under way.
"We've learnt that a gas leak occurred. A shift in-charge and two other officers went to investigate and fell ill.
“Four more workers who went closer also lost consciousness. We've learnt that five deaths have been confirmed.”
Mohammad Mahbubul Hasan, deputy inspector general (DIG) at the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), said: "We've received reports of 10 workers being injured after toxic gas leaked from the ship. It happened this morning.
“We don't yet have details of how it happened. We'll say more once we've carried out an inspection."
Al Mamun, station officer at the Sitakunda Fire Service and Civil Defence, said: "We're inside the shipbreaking yard. Rescue operations are under way."
Angur Mia, who brought the victims to hospital, said the workers had been cutting the ship when gas stored in a tank exploded.
He said he knew two of the dead, both from Gaibandha district.
Md Mohiuddin, brother-in-law of one of the dead, identified only as Mansur, said he had rushed to the hospital on hearing the news, and that no one from the yard's management had yet come forward.
He said Mansur and his brother, Md Nasir, both residents of Bhatiari, had died in the incident.
