BANGLADESH: Factory building collapse on the outskirts of the Bangladeshi capital kills nearly 100 and injures hundreds more

Record ID: 216353

  • Title: BANGLADESH: Factory building collapse on the outskirts of the Bangladeshi capital kills nearly 100 and injures hundreds more
  • Date: 24th April 2013
  • Summary: DHAKA, BANGLADESH (APRIL 24, 2013) (REUTERS) COLLAPSED BUILDING RANA PLAZA SIGN ON TOP OF COLLAPSED BUILDING VARIOUS OF THE COLLAPSED BUILDING WITH RESCUE WORKERS SOLDIERS AND FIREMEN WORKING VOLUNTEERS CARRYING INJURED WOMAN FROM BUILDING VARIOUS OF VOLUNTEERS CARRYING INJURED PEOPLE FROM THE BUILDING RED CRESCENT VOLUNTEERS CARRYING INJURED PERSON ON A STRETCHER TO AN
  • Embargoed: 9th May 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bangladesh
  • Country: Bangladesh
  • Topics: Accidents
  • Reuters ID: LVA6K0L9NR8AV6Q3L3IMMLNA1PJ6
  • Story Text: A block housing garment factories and shops collapsed in Bangladesh on Wednesday (April 24), killing nearly 100 people and injuring more than a thousand, officials said.
    Firefighters, troops and volunteers dug frantically through the rubble of the eight-storey Rana Plaza building in Savar, 30 km (20 miles) outside Dhaka. A number of workers, mostly young women, can be seen carried out of the rubble.

    "My sister went to the garment factory this morning, I am not getting any information about her as to whether she is alive or dead," said Khaleda Begum.
    One fireman told Reuters about 2,000 people were in the building when the upper floors slammed down onto those below.
    Bangladesh's booming garments industry has been plagued by fires and other accidents for years, despite a drive to improve safety standards. In November 112 workers died in a blaze at the Tazreen factory in a nearby suburb, putting a spotlight on global retailers which source clothes from Bangladesh.
    Garments account for more than 80 percent of Bangladesh's annual export income ($19 billion in fiscal year to last June) and employ more than four million people, mostly women.
    Buildings in the crowded city of Dhaka are sometimes erected without permission and many do not comply with construction regulations. Dozens died when a garment factory collapsed in the same area eight years ago.

    "I started my work at 8 a.m. this morning, at about 930 I suddenly heard a strange sound and I saw that the building was collapsing. I then ran out through a stairwell and jumped down. I lost consciousness but I was rescued by others," said Jweel Islam.
    Mohammad Asaduzzaman, in charge of the area's police station, said factory owners appeared to have ignored a warning not to allow their workers into the building after a crack was detected in the block on Tuesday.
    Five garment factories - employing mostly women - were housed in the building, including Ether Tex Ltd., whose chairman said he was unaware of any warnings not to open the workshops.
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