Death toll rises to 26 in Gadani shipbreaking blast

AFP Published November 6, 2016

The death toll from an explosion and fire at the Gadani ship-breaking yard last week has risen to 26, officials said Sunday.

More than 50 others were wounded in the incident when a gas cylinder exploded and started a fire inside an oil tanker in the shipyard.

“Six more wounded from the Gadani shipyard have died, so the new toll is now 26,” Zulfiqar Hashmi, a local government official, told AFP.

“One person died at home after being discharged from hospital while five others expired in hospital,” he said.

Muhammad Hashim, commissioner of Kalat region of which Gadani is a part, confirmed the new toll.

Pakistan has banned all activities at the ship-breaking yard in Gadani and a probe is underway.

A high-level committee formed by the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to investigate the causes of the fire held its first meeting in the port city of Karachi Saturday and said it would finalise a report within a week.

Industrial accidents are common in Pakistan, with workplaces often forgoing basic safety measures and equipment in the absence of legislation to protect labourers.

A devastating fire at a textile factory in Karachi killed 255 people in 2012.

Pakistan

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Adil Jadoon

Nov 06, 2016 03:43pm

Lack of laws, no interest by the govt and poor emergtncy response services. These are the reason for this tragedy. Incredibly the commision to investigate this is sitting in Karachi???

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Karachi

Nov 06, 2016 04:20pm

This gas cylinder explosion has to be investigated, terrorism should not be ruled...somehow this is an eye opener on the capacity of fire control capabilities ... The life of 27 persons should not go in vain, we have to improve the knowledge and action and equipment based on this knowledge. this is the basic way how the human and societies evolve.

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Muhammad Saleem Munshi

Nov 06, 2016 05:23pm

@Karachi Bhai this is no act of terrorism just gross ignorance and disregard for safety health and environment rules. Before commencing hot work in confined space gas freeing is essential and this was not done. Gases emanating from the residual oil and sludge got fire when hot welding was being done. The caused a huge blow back and subsequent explosion with the poor souls getting burnt and falling down from their work places. The contractor assigned to clean the tanker is at fault along with all the others who have no regard for work safety and human lives and profit at all cost as their sole motive.

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anwar syed, St.Louis, mo.usa

Nov 06, 2016 05:40pm

I know no one will take the responsibility for this fire. Almost all the times these types of caused by human errors or negligence, and this could be avoided. Unfortunately, poor labor type people died in these types of casualties. I know no compensation or very little given to the survivor's families or widows.

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ZUBAIR kHAN

Nov 06, 2016 05:41pm

can we please know the early investigation result for the reason behind this incident, the main cause?? Thank you. It looks like that lack of safety measures maybe behind this trajedy such as No gas testing prior to commencing hot work, confined space entry etc etc .

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Mohammed Cohen

Nov 06, 2016 07:24pm

Instead of the stupidity of those calling "an act of terrorism" Pakistan authorities must accept the blame and admit that the most dangerous and totally ignored plight of the dismantlers of these ships is a chronic problem and not a new one. These kinds of accidents happen everyday at these ship wrecking salvage yards with the exception that not too many accidents happen of this size where it gets the attention of the press! it's not a mystery or a hidden fact that the appalling work conditions totally devoid of any safety of the poor workers exist. Pakistan's docile press has ignored the working conditions of these salvage operations that are going on for decades and not sufficient amount of safety standards have been enforced as the corruption's flags fly the highest on the helms of these decaying copses of sea giant they once were now lay dead for the scavengers to strip its left over dead bodies!

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