Four workers died and another suffered critical burns in an explosion on Jan 17 at a ship-breaking yard in Sitakunda during scrapping a tanker that entered the country violating the High Court's directive.
The cause of the explosion at Mak Corporation Ship-Breaking Yard could not be known immediately.Worker who was near the scene said the explosion occurred while dismantling a fuel tank. Locals said the explosion was so huge that it could be heard from two miles away. Three workers were admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital with severe burns around 2:00pm and two of them died, said Dr Mohammad Ayub, head of Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit, CMCH. The injured worker is undergoing treatment with 50 percent burns. Another victim with minor injury was released after giving first aid, doctors said. Bodies of two more workers were found later on board of dismantled vessel, Indian tanker Pranam IMO 8321383, dwt 50600, built 1984.
Casualties at the Sitakunda ship-breaking yards are frequent and some even remain unreported at times. The owners have yet to take adequate safety measures despite the HC orders, exposing hundreds of workers to life risk. The MAK Corporation imported the exploded Pranam (IMO registration 8321383) along with two other ships Sea Pearl and Norsul at the end of 2010. Though the DoE was served legal notice for violating the court order, it let Kashem to import those ships.
source
Maritime Bulletin
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