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Rescue workers struggle to put out fire at Gadani shipbreaking yard

1st November 2016 | Dawn.com

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.

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

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Comments (2) Closed



M.Saeed Nov 01, 2016 11:06pm

If all workers are accounted for, the ship must be allowed to burn and make the work easy for the ship-breakers.

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Dr. Hamid Gul Nov 02, 2016 11:27am

Is there any safety rule and inspection? Are the government agencies functioning? Punish the people responsible for the incident. This shows the ground level safety in Pakistan.

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