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الوسم: industrial accident

  • Eight Dead in Bangladesh Shipbreaking Yard Gas Leak: Police

    Eight Dead in Bangladesh Shipbreaking Yard Gas Leak: Police

    Toxic gases escaped from a vessel at a shipbreaking yard in Bangladesh on Friday, resulting in the deaths of at least eight workers, with five others reported missing, according to police sources.

    Eyewitnesses recounted hearing screams from inside the facility in the southeastern port city of Chittagong before some victims were rushed to hospitals by nearby workers.

    Senior police officer Abdul Kuddus Chowdhury confirmed the death toll, stating that authorities are actively searching for the missing workers.

    “A committee has been established to investigate this incident, and an audit of the shipbreaking yard has been ordered,” Chowdhury told AFP.

    The shipbreaking yard, Ferdous Steel Shipbreaking Yard and Recycling Factory, which previously acquired a vessel used to transport liquefied natural gas, has been classified as an environmentally compliant, “green” facility, Chowdhury added.

    However, Towfiqul Islam Bhuiyan, a fire service official, criticized safety breaches, asserting that the vessel should have been free of gas prior to the start of cutting operations.

    “The yard authorities did not adhere to safety instructions. Those exposed to the gas died, while workers further away survived,” Bhuiyan explained to AFP.

    Ferdous has yet to issue a public statement regarding the incident.

    Bhuiyan reported that firefighters recovered three bodies from the scene and found several unconscious workers who were subsequently taken to hospitals.

    Bangladesh’s shipbreaking industry spans a 25-kilometer (about 15 miles) stretch along the Chittagong coast on the Bay of Bengal. It ranks among the world’s largest shipbreaking hubs and provides employment to tens of thousands of workers.

    This sector has long been under scrutiny from labor and environmental groups over safety standards and hazardous working conditions.

    Among the casualties on Friday was Palash Jaladas, whose wife Bhoumika Jaladas, who is reportedly eight months pregnant, was left devastated.

    “What am I supposed to do now?” she tearfully told reporters.

  • China factory fire claims at least 28 lives: state media

    China factory fire claims at least 28 lives: state media

    A firefighter climbs onto a fire truck as he and his colleagues work to put out a blaze at a petrochemical plant in Zhangzhou, Fujian Province. — Reuters/File

    – Rescuers are concerned that more workers may still be trapped inside the building.
    – Blocked stairwells are hindering firefighters’ efforts to reach upper floors.
    – Authorities have dispatched 183 personnel and 35 rescue vehicles.

    A fire swept through a shoe manufacturing factory in eastern China on Thursday, resulting in the deaths of at least 28 people, according to state media reports. Over 500 firefighters and rescue workers are rushing to extinguish the flames.

    Several hours after the fire ignited at the Huiteng Shoes factory around noon (0400 GMT), officials feared there could still be individuals trapped inside the building located in Jinjiang city, Fujian Province.

    President Xi Jinping stated that the fire caused “significant human losses,” with initial reports from the state news agency Xinhua confirming a death toll of 28.

    Footage broadcast by CCTV showed firefighters spraying water on the exterior and interior of a large, multi-story white building as thick black smoke billowed from broken windows. People were seen seeking refuge near the windows and on the roof, while the lower floors continued to burn.

    CCTV reported that approximately 500 firefighters and emergency personnel were present at the scene.

    Xi emphasized that the cause of the incident should be identified swiftly, and those responsible must be held accountable. The company owner and several others have been detained, and the authorities have frozen the company’s bank accounts.

    Jinjiang is one of China’s key hubs for shoe production and a global center for athletic footwear manufacturing, according to the state-controlled Global Times.

    Fire chief Du Zhenzhou explained that access to the upper floors was difficult because stairwells and exits were blocked with shoe materials. He added that adhesives and other raw materials used in shoe manufacturing fueled the fire.

    The emergency management ministry reported that efforts to extinguish the fire were ongoing, with a focus on rescuing trapped individuals and treating the injured. Some persons remained unaccounted for and out of contact.

    At the time of the fire, 237 workers and two delivery personnel were present at the factory. While 213 individuals had been evacuated, the precise relationship between these numbers and the confirmed death toll remains unclear.

    Xi highlighted that China has experienced several major industrial safety incidents this year. He urged all regions and relevant agencies to learn from these tragedies and implement stricter safety measures.

    In response to previous industrial fires, China launched a safety campaign in November targeting high-rise buildings, following a catastrophic blaze in Hong Kong that resulted in 168 deaths. A month later, a fire at a residential building in Guangdong province claimed 12 lives. In May, an explosion at a fireworks factory in central China killed 37 people, marking one of the deadliest industrial accidents in recent years.

  • One Dead, One Missing in Pennsylvania Steel Plant Blasts

    One Dead, One Missing in Pennsylvania Steel Plant Blasts

    A series of intense explosions rocked the U.S. Steel plant near Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania on Monday, resulting in one worker’s death and another missing. Ten additional individuals sustained injuries as fires and thick smoke billowed from the facility, prompting an immediate search for the missing worker.

    The blasts at Clairton Coke Works—part of a large industrial complex along the Monongahela River—occurred shortly before 11 a.m. Eastern Time (3 p.m. GMT). Fire crews engaged in fighting the fires amid plumes of heavy smoke emanating from the plant, which is operated by US Steel, a subsidiary of Nippon Steel.

    Initially, two workers were reported missing. One was located and transported to a nearby hospital, according to Allegheny County Police Assistant Superintendent Victor Joseph. The fate of the other worker remains unknown. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the explosion.

    “Rescue operations are still underway,” Joseph stated during an afternoon briefing. He emphasized that the investigation into the incident would likely be lengthy and technically complex. David Burritt, CEO of US Steel, released a statement affirming the company’s collaboration with local officials to determine the cause of the event.

    While the exact injuries’ severity remains unclear, reports indicated that several victims were admitted to burn units at hospitals. Clairton Mayor Rich Lattanzi described the day as devastating for the city, which is located about 20 miles south of Pittsburgh and has a long history as America’s Steel City.

    US Steel has been producing steel in the region since the late 1800s. However, in recent decades, the industry has faced decline, leading to numerous plant closures and restructuring efforts. Only recently, Nippon Steel’s $14.9 billion acquisition of US Steel was finalized after an 18-month review process by U.S. authorities, which scrutinized the deal for national security concerns.

    Air quality monitors did not detect a significant increase in sulfur dioxide levels post-explosion. Nevertheless, residents within a one-mile radius of the plant were advised to stay indoors, keep windows and doors shut, set HVAC systems to recirculate air, and avoid outdoor activities, as per Allegheny County officials.

    The Clairton Coke Works stands as the largest coke manufacturing plant in the United States, with about 1,300 workers. It operates ten coke oven batteries, producing approximately 4.3 million tons of coke annually. Coke, created by heating coal at high temperatures, is a vital component used in blast furnaces during steel production.