Chittagong shipbreaking yard explosion kills two, injures five

Two shipbreaking workers were killed while at least another five were injured after an explosion and fire broke out on a vessel they were working on in Chittagong, Bangladesh, on Wednesday, May 15.

The incident occurred at around 08:30 local time on the decommissioned crude oil carrier Bunga Kelana 4, which was beached at Mahinur Ship Breaking Yard.

The explosion was said to have been caused by torch-cutting sparks coming in contact with abandoned waste oil near the ship’s engine room.

One worker was killed instantly in the explosion while another succumbed to his injuries as he was rushed to hospital.

Five workers sustained less severe burn injuries though one of them is reportedly in critical condition. All are being treated at the Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

Local news outlets state other workers who were on the vessel at the time of the incident remain unaccounted for.

Bunga Kelana 4 is reportedly one of four vessels that Malaysia’s AET Tankers had sold for scrapping to shipbreakers in Bangladesh and India.