Port worker burned after accidental explosion

A port worker was severely burned and two others injured when an oil barrel exploded Tuesday morning near the welding workshop at the Maldives Ports Limited’s commercial harbour in Malé.

A police spokesman said the victims were rushed to the hospital shortly after the incident was reported around 10 am. The three MPL staff were working near the workshop when the used oil barrel caught on fire, he explained.

Eyewitnesses also reported that the oil barrel exploded after it was hit by flying sparks from the welding workshop.

One man suffered burns to 20 percent of the body while the others sustained minor injuries.

The MPL assured that an internal probe was underway to determine the cause of the explosion. “We assure that the company will take urgent measures to avoid the recurrence of such incidents,” the state-owned company said in a statement.

A port worker was also severely injured in an accident earlier this month while loading containers onto a cargo ship. After undergoing a 10-hour surgery at the Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital in Malé, the victim was flown to India for further treamtent at the Kims Hospital.

Local media has since reported that man’s right leg was amputated. The MPL said such accidents occur rarely despite safety precautions at the port site.

A port worker was also injured by a falling glass pallet in October 2016.