Teen worker injured in fuel station fire dies after five days in hospital

DUHOK — An 18-year-old worker who sustained critical burns in a fuel station fire in the Qadish community near Amedi died Tuesday after five days of treatment, according to local labor officials.

Walid Hamza suffered burns over 85% of his body when a fire broke out at a gas station on May 15. He was transferred to the burns hospital in Duhok, where he remained in critical condition until his death on May 20.

Walat Ozman, head of the Duhok branch of the Kurdistan Workers Syndicate, told 964media that the fire began in the gasoline pump area and triggered a gas system explosion. A police officer was also slightly injured while responding to the incident.

Hamza’s body was released from the forensic medicine department in Duhok and handed over to his family.

Ozman said security forces are continuing their investigation and urged the victim’s family to file a formal complaint against the station owner in order to pursue financial compensation and unpaid wages. He noted that five workers have died in job-related incidents across Duhok governorate since the start of the year.

The Qadish community is located about 45 kilometers from central Duhok.