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Bangladesh clothing factory hit by deadly fire | Bangladesh clothing factory hit by deadly fire |
(35 minutes later) | |
At least nine people have been killed in a fire at a clothing factory near the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, emergency officials say. | At least nine people have been killed in a fire at a clothing factory near the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, emergency officials say. |
Local media said about 50 people had been hurt in the fire, which broke out late on Tuesday in Gazipur. | |
It was feared the number of people killed could rise. | It was feared the number of people killed could rise. |
Safety standards in Bangladesh's garment factories are notoriously poor. More than 1,100 people died in April when a factory outside Dhaka collapsed. | Safety standards in Bangladesh's garment factories are notoriously poor. More than 1,100 people died in April when a factory outside Dhaka collapsed. |
Another 2,500 people were injured in the disaster in the Ashulia district on the outskirts of the capital, where most of the clothing industry is based. | Another 2,500 people were injured in the disaster in the Ashulia district on the outskirts of the capital, where most of the clothing industry is based. |
Last November, 112 workers were killed in a fire at another clothes factory in the area. | Last November, 112 workers were killed in a fire at another clothes factory in the area. |
The cause of the latest fire was not immediately clear, but reports said it broke out at a knitting section of Aswad Composite Mills. | |
Reports quoted officials saying water shortages and a lack of nearby fire stations had worsened the blaze. | |
"It's a massive fire. Ten fire brigade teams are working to put it out," local police chief Amir Hossain told Agence France-Presse. | |
Although most members of a reported workforce of 3,000 had left the building for the day, a number of people were said to have been working overtime. | |
"We could not control the fire. It has been raging for more than six hours," local fire chief M Akteruzzaman told AFP. | |
"There is an acute shortage of water in the area, which makes the job to control the fire very difficult." | |
Police officer Ameer Hossain told the Daily Star in Bangladesh that nine bodies had been recovered. Other accounts put the toll at 10. | |
Clothing makes up around three-quarters of Bangladesh's total exports, and the factory collapse prompted protests and calls for improved safety measures. | |
Dozens of international retailers agreed a plan last July to conduct inspections at factories from which their goods were sourced. | Dozens of international retailers agreed a plan last July to conduct inspections at factories from which their goods were sourced. |