Gadani ship fire doused after four days

GADANI: The fire at an oil tanker in the Gadani Ship-breaking yard has been doused after hectic efforts for four days.

At least 20 people were killed and more than 50 injured when its fuel tank caught fire and exploded on November 1.

Rescue work inside the ship cannot begin as the metal plates are scalding.

The MTSS ship with a Nairobi flag had reached Gadani carrying 19 Indian crew members on October 22. The same day the crew left the ship, sources said.

The ship was bought by owner of Ghafoor and Company Abdul Ghafoor, who has been missing since the incident. Police has arrested the contractor who was dealing with the workers.

A case on behalf of the government has been filed at the Gadani police station. According to police four suspects have been named in the case.

The suspects include Chaudhry Ghafoor, Muhammad Hafeez, Contractor Jalal and Farooq Bangali.

One of the suspects, Hafeez has been arrested by police.

The Gaddani ship-breaking industry has fallen on hard times recently and employs about 9,000 workers, fewer than in boom years at the end of the last decade.