Ctg Correspondent:

The death toll from a toxic gas leak at a ship recycling yard in Chattogram’s Sitakunda has risen to eight, while five others were injured in the incident.

The incident occurred on Friday morning at Ferdaus Steel Ship Recycling Industries in Bhatiary of Sitakunda, confirmed Ferdaus Wahid, Managing Director of the shipyard.

The injured workers were being admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital for treatment, he said.

Chattogram Superintendent of Police Mahamuda Begum, however, said reports of an explosion were incorrect, assuring that the deaths were caused by a toxic gas leak.

According to workers and officials, labourers were carrying out housekeeping work aboard a ship at the yard on Friday morning when they noticed gas escaping from one of its tanks.

Several workers approached the tank and subsequently fell unconscious after being exposed to the gas. They were later rescued and taken to hospital.

Mohammad Mahbubul Hasan, deputy inspector general of the Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments, said the casualties occurred after toxic gas leaked from the vessel.

“We are investigating the cause of the gas leakage and whether adequate safety measures were in place to protect the workers,” he said.