On 7 September, around noon, an explosion occurred at a shipbreaking yard in Sitakunda, Chattogram, leading to a fire that killed two workers.
All 12 workers sustained varying degrees of burns, ranging from 10 to 90 percent of their bodies. In addition to external injuries, many of the workers suffered severe airway damage due to inhalation of smoke and fumes from the fire. Unfortunately, the incident has claimed two lives so far, with one worker succumbing to 80% burn injuries early Monday at Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (SHNIBPS). Earlier, another worker died from his injuries on Saturday.
The injured were immediately taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital (CMCH), where doctors assessed their critical condition. As the situation of eight workers worsened, they were transferred to the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka for advanced treatment.
Many of the victims sustained severe airway damage, with some also experiencing hearing loss.
In response, the Ministry of Industries ordered the closure of the shipyard and formed a committee to investigate the incident. An official inquiry is underway to determine the cause and assess safety protocols at the site.
