ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Two workers were killed on Saturday when a fuel tanker exploded while they were welding it in Erbil’s industrial area, local authorities said.
“Two workers were welding a tanker that had fuel in it, as a result, the tanker exploded, and both of them lost their lives," Erbil Governor Omed Khoshnaw told Rudaw.
He added that the incident occurred at around 3 pm.
"One of the two workers is Bangladeshi, and the other is from Eastern Kurdistan [western Iran]," Khoshnaw said.
Workplace safety remains a persistent concern in the Kurdistan Region and across Iraq, where laborers often face hazardous conditions. Many employers do not formalize contracts with workers, allowing them to avoid providing safety equipment, training, or compensation in the event of injury or death.
As a result, workers injured in accidents frequently lose their only source of income, while families of deceased workers are often left without support. Weak enforcement of labor regulations has contributed to widespread noncompliance with safety standards.
Under Iraq’s Labor Code of 1987 (Act No. 71), employers are legally required to ensure safe working conditions and take necessary measures to protect workers while on the job.