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Dhaka building collapse: Fire disrupts rescue efforts | |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A fire at a collapsed factory building in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka has hampered efforts to reach remaining survivors of a disaster that has killed at least 377 people. | |
The fire was started by sparks from cutters being used in a failed attempt to free a female survivor. | |
It was extinguished late on Sunday, and work with heavy lifting equipment has now resumed at the Rana Plaza factory. | |
Owner Mohammed Sohel Rana was earlier arrested near the Indian border. | |
He has been flown back to Dhaka. | He has been flown back to Dhaka. |
Mr Rana was said to have been in hiding since the eight-storey building collapsed on Wednesday with hundreds of workers inside. | |
Two survivors | Two survivors |
Smoke was seen pouring from a section of the third floor of the building on Sunday afternoon, stopping rescue work in that area, although efforts continued in other parts. | |
The Rana Plaza in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, was a garment factory and the presence of clothing may have worsened the blaze, correspondents say. | |
Four firefighters were taken to hospital, | |
The BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan says rescuers had been trying to free a trapped woman for a number of hours but they later reported she had not survived. | |
Cutters and heavy lifting equipment had been brought in after officials determined that light equipment could no longer do the job. | Cutters and heavy lifting equipment had been brought in after officials determined that light equipment could no longer do the job. |
Earlier on Sunday, two people were pulled out alive but hopes are fading that many more survivors will be found. | Earlier on Sunday, two people were pulled out alive but hopes are fading that many more survivors will be found. |
The co-ordinator of rescue efforts said that work with heavy-lifting gear would be done carefully to avoid mutilating bodies trapped under the debris. | |
Thousands of relatives of missing workers are still waiting at the site as survivors and the dead are pulled from the rubble. | Thousands of relatives of missing workers are still waiting at the site as survivors and the dead are pulled from the rubble. |
At least 3,000 are estimated to have been in the building when it collapsed. About 2,430 are now known to have survived. | At least 3,000 are estimated to have been in the building when it collapsed. About 2,430 are now known to have survived. |
There is no official figure on the number of people still missing, but Akram Hossain, a deputy director of the fire service, said their chances of survival were "diminishing by the minute". | There is no official figure on the number of people still missing, but Akram Hossain, a deputy director of the fire service, said their chances of survival were "diminishing by the minute". |
Earlier, local government minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak announced the arrest of Mohammed Sohel Rana by loudspeaker at the site of the collapse, to cheers from rescue workers. | Earlier, local government minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak announced the arrest of Mohammed Sohel Rana by loudspeaker at the site of the collapse, to cheers from rescue workers. |
The factory owner was detained near the land-crossing in Benapole along the border with India's West Bengal state by Rapid Action Battalion soldiers. | The factory owner was detained near the land-crossing in Benapole along the border with India's West Bengal state by Rapid Action Battalion soldiers. |
Bangladeshi TV later showed Mr Rana in handcuffs after being flown back to Dhaka by helicopter. | Bangladeshi TV later showed Mr Rana in handcuffs after being flown back to Dhaka by helicopter. |
The building housed several garment factories. | The building housed several garment factories. |
Six people, including three factory owners and two engineers, have now been arrested. | Six people, including three factory owners and two engineers, have now been arrested. |
Anger at the building collapse has triggered days of violent protests in Dhaka. | Anger at the building collapse has triggered days of violent protests in Dhaka. |
On Sunday, garment workers blockaded a main road in a nearby industrial zone of Gazipur demanding capital punishment for those responsible. | On Sunday, garment workers blockaded a main road in a nearby industrial zone of Gazipur demanding capital punishment for those responsible. |
Bangladesh has one of the largest garment industries in the world, providing cheap clothing for major Western retailers that benefit from its widespread low-cost labour. | Bangladesh has one of the largest garment industries in the world, providing cheap clothing for major Western retailers that benefit from its widespread low-cost labour. |
But the industry has been widely criticised for its low pay and limited rights given to workers and for the often dangerous working conditions in garment factories. | But the industry has been widely criticised for its low pay and limited rights given to workers and for the often dangerous working conditions in garment factories. |