Rescue workers struggle to put out fire at Gadani shipbreaking yard

Published November 1, 2016
Firefighters use a hose as they attempt to extinguish a fire on a ship after a gas cylinder explosion at the Gadani shipbreaking yard. —AFP
Firefighters use a hose as they attempt to extinguish a fire on a ship after a gas cylinder explosion at the Gadani shipbreaking yard. —AFP
Rescue officials shift an injured man into a hospital, after he was injured in a gas cylinder explosion at a shipbreaking yard at Gadani. ─AFP
Rescue officials shift an injured man into a hospital, after he was injured in a gas cylinder explosion at a shipbreaking yard at Gadani. ─AFP
Smoke rising from vessel oil tanker after blast. ─PPI
Smoke rising from vessel oil tanker after blast. ─PPI
Rescue officials shift an injured worker to Civil Hospital Karachi. ─PPI
Rescue officials shift an injured worker to Civil Hospital Karachi. ─PPI
Rescue officials shift an injured man into a hospital. ─AFP
Rescue officials shift an injured man into a hospital. ─AFP
People look at the ship on fire following an explosion in the coastal town of Gadani. ─AP
People look at the ship on fire following an explosion in the coastal town of Gadani. ─AP
A Pakistan Navy ambulance seen coming out from Gadani Ship Breaking Yard. ─Online
A Pakistan Navy ambulance seen coming out from Gadani Ship Breaking Yard. ─Online
Bystanders gather around the wreckage of a burning ship. ─AFP
Bystanders gather around the wreckage of a burning ship. ─AFP
Security officials carry a body following an explosion and  fire on a ship, in the coastal town of Gadani.─AP
Security officials carry a body following an explosion and fire on a ship, in the coastal town of Gadani.─AP
Labourers gather following a gas cylinder explosion at the Gadani shipbreaking yard. ─AFP
Labourers gather following a gas cylinder explosion at the Gadani shipbreaking yard. ─AFP
A worker looks at ship on fire in the coastal town of Gadani. ─AP
A worker looks at ship on fire in the coastal town of Gadani. ─AP
Rescue workers move a man who was injured after an explosion at the Gadani ship-breaking yard, at a hospital in Karachi. ─Reuters
Rescue workers move a man who was injured after an explosion at the Gadani ship-breaking yard, at a hospital in Karachi. ─Reuters

At least 12 people were killed and 58 others injured during a series of explosions that occurred during work on an unused oil tanker in the Gadani shipbreaking yard on Tuesday.

The Deputy superintendent police Hub confirmed the death toll to DawnNews and added that workers said over 100 people were working on the ship at the time of explosion.

The whereabouts of at least 30 other workers remain unknown. Some workers remain trapped inside the ship, whereas others who were able to exit the ship from above threw themselves into the sea, DawnNews reported.

Pakistan Navy was also taking part in the fire fighting and rescue operation and had deployed four fire tenders and two ambulances to facilitate the local administration.

The operation was underway till the filing of this report as the wreckage of the ship was still on fire and the heat was hindering fire fighting efforts.

Opinion

Editorial

Iran endgame
Updated 03 Mar, 2026

Iran endgame

AS hostilities continue following the Israeli-American joint aggression against Iran, there seems to be no visible...
Water concerns
03 Mar, 2026

Water concerns

RECENT reports that India plans to invest $60bn in increasing its water storage capacity on the Jhelum and Chenab...
Down and out
03 Mar, 2026

Down and out

ANOTHER Twenty20 World Cup, another ignominious exit — although this time Pakistan did advance past the first...
Khamenei’s killing
Updated 02 Mar, 2026

Khamenei’s killing

THERE is no question about it: with the brutal assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and...
NFC reform
02 Mar, 2026

NFC reform

PLANNING Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s call for forward-looking reforms in the NFC Award has reopened an important debate...
Migrant crisis
02 Mar, 2026

Migrant crisis

MIGRANT casualties represent the lifelong pain of families left behind. Yet countries do little to preserve ...