At least 5 people were killed and 2 others went missing when fire broke out in a ship at plot number 60 of the Gadani shipbreaking yard on Monday, rescue sources told after extinguishing fire. Eyewitnesses said the blaze erupted while over 20 labourers were working on an out-of-service LPG ship that belonged to ex-chairman of the Ship-breaking Yard Association, Rizwan Diwan Farooqi.
Trapped workers were taken out from rear exit of the ship through boats. It may be recalled that in November 2016, 26 people had been killed and 58 others injured during a series of explosions that occurred during work on an unused oil tanker at the yard. Industrial accidents are common in Pakistan, with workplaces often forgoing basic safety measures and equipment in the absence of legislation to protect labourers.