At least Fourteen workers were killed and 50 others injured on Tuesday as a fire erupted at Gadani shipbreaking yard.
“Over 200 workers are trapped inside the shipbreaking yard engulfed by flames,” Deputy General Secretary National Trade Union Federation Nasir Mansoor said.The fire erupted in a dismantled ship in the yard. Balochistan Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri has directed authorities to provide medical assistance to the injured. Further, while ordering authorities to submit a report regarding the incident, CM Balochistan directed DC Lasbela to reach the site to monitor the ongoing rescue efforts and keep him updated on the situation.
Due to lack of precautionary measures, accidents are reported regularly at Gadani. The workers are deprived of safety shoes, leather gloves, protective helmets, overalls and fire extinguishing equipment.
Gadani is the second largest shipbreaking center of the world after Alang, Mumbai where more than 15,000 workers are directly employed while another two million are earning livelihood indirectly from it.At least 12 people were killed and over 50 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 South PunjabNews and added that workers said over 100 people were working on the ship at the time.
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, South PunjabNews reported.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri has instructed the district administration to speed up efforts for injured workers.
The Provincial Disaster Management Authority and the National Disaster Management Authority are conducting a joint rescue operation.
About eight explosions have occurred in the oil tanker due to gas welding work, and more explosions are feared, South PunjabNews reported.
Rescue workers are limited in the area, South PunjabNews reported, adding that only a single fire engine present at the scene has been unsuccessful in puttin
