Collapse at factory building in Bangladesh kills nearly 100, injures many more
The collapse of a garment factory building in Bangladesh has killed nearly 100 and injured many more, signaling continued safety standard problems for the industry in the country. In November, 112 workers were killed in a blaze at the Tazreen fashions factory in a nearby industrial suburb, reported Reuters. | WARNING: Visual coverage may depict death and/or injury.
- People rescue garment workers trapped under rubble at the Rana Plaza building after it collapsed, in Savar, 19 miles outside Dhaka April 24, 2013. An eight-storey block housing garment factories and a shopping centre collapsed on the outskirts of the Bangladeshi capital on Wednesday. (Andrew Biraj/Reuters)
- A rescue worker carries a garment worker to an ambulance after pulling her from the rubble of the collapsed Rana Plaza building in Savar, 19 miles outside Dhaka April 24, 2013. The eight-storey block housing factories and a shopping centre collapsed on the outskirts of the Bangladeshi capital on Wednesday, a government official said. (Andrew Biraj/Reuters)
- Bangladeshi garment workers assist a survivor after sliding down a length of textile after an eight-storey building collapsed in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on April 24, 2013. At least 82 people were killed and many more feared dead when an eight-storey building housing a market and garment factory collapsed in Bangladesh on Wednesday, an official said. (Munir uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images)
- People rescue a garment worker who was trapped under the rubble of the collapsed Rana Plaza building in Savar, 19 miles outside Dhaka April 24, 2013. The eight-storey block housing factories and a shopping centre collapsed on the outskirts of the Bangladeshi capital on Wednesday, a government official said. (Andrew Biraj/Reuters)
- Bangladeshi volunteers prepare lengths of textiles to used as evacutation slides for the injured and dead after an eight-storey building collapsed in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on April 24, 2013. At least 82 people were killed and many more feared dead when an eight-storey building housing a market and garment factory collapsed in Bangladesh on Wednesday, an official said. (Munir uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images)
- The foot of a victim is seen amid the rubble after an eight-storey building collapsed in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on April 24, 2013. At least 60 people were killed and many more feared dead when an eight-storey building housing a market and garment factory collapsed in Bangladesh on Wednesday, an official said. (Munir uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images)
- Bangladeshi garment workers carry a victim’s body after an eight-storey building collapsed in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on April 24, 2013. At least 82 people were killed and many more feared dead when an eight-storey building housing a market and garment factory collapsed in Bangladesh on Wednesday, an official said. (Munir uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images)
- A Bangladeshi volunteer carries an injured garment worker after an eight-storey building collapsed in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on April 24, 2013. At least 82 people have died and 700 are injured after a eight-storey building housing several garment factories collapsed on the outskirts of Bangladesh’s capital on Wednesday, a doctor said. (Munir uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images)
- Crowds gather at the collapsed Rana Plaza building as people rescue garment workers trapped in the rubble, in Savar, 19 miles outside Dhaka April 24, 2013. The eight-storey block housing garment factories and a shopping centre collapsed on the outskirts of the Bangladeshi capital on Wednesday, killing at least 25 people and injuring more than 500, the Ntv television news channel reported. (Andrew Biraj/Reuters)
- Bangladeshi civiliant volunteers assist in rescue operations after an eight-storey building collapsed in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on April 24, 2013. At least 82 people were killed and many more feared dead when an eight-storey building housing a market and garment factory collapsed in Bangladesh on Wednesday, officials said. (Munir uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images)
- TOPSHOTS A Bangladeshi firefighter carries an injured garment worker after an eight-storey building collapsed in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on April 24, 2013. At least 82 people have died and 700 are injured after a eight-storey building housing several garment factories collapsed on the outskirts of Bangladesh’s capital on Wednesday, a doctor said. (Munir uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images)
- TOPSHOTS Bangladeshi garment workers help evacuate a survivor using lengths of textile as a slide to evacuate from the rubble after an eight-storey building collapsed in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka, on April 24, 2013. At least 82 people were killed and many more feared dead when an eight-storey building housing a market and garment factory collapsed in Bangladesh on Wednesday, officials said. (Munir uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images)
- Johura, 20, holds a picture of her missing husband Motiur Rahman, a garment worker who was working in the Rana Plaza building when it collapsed, in Savar, 19 miles outside Dhaka April 24, 2013. The eight-storey block housing factories and a shopping centre collapsed on the outskirts of the Bangladeshi capital on Wednesday, a government official said. (Andrew Biraj/Reuters)
- A relative holds a picture of a missing garment worker, who was working in the Rana Plaza building when it collapsed, in Savar, 19 miles outside Dhaka April 24, 2013. The eight-storey block housing factories and a shopping centre collapsed on the outskirts of the Bangladeshi capital on Wednesday, a government official said. (Andrew Biraj/Reuters)
- A relative holds a picture of a missing garment worker, who was working in the Rana Plaza building when it collapsed, in Savar, 19 miles outside Dhaka April 24, 2013. The eight-storey block housing factories and a shopping centre collapsed on the outskirts of the Bangladeshi capital on Wednesday, a government official said. (Andrew Biraj/Reuters)
- A relative holds a picture of a missing garment worker, who was working in the Rana Plaza building when it collapsed, in Savar, 19 miles outside Dhaka April 24, 2013. The eight-storey block housing factories and a shopping centre collapsed on the outskirts of the Bangladeshi capital on Wednesday, a government official said. (Andrew Biraj/Reuters)
- People mourn for their relatives, who were working in the Rana Plaza building when it collapsed, in Savar, 19 miles outside Dhaka April 24, 2013. The eight-storey block housing factories and a shopping centre collapsed on the outskirts of the Bangladeshi capital on Wednesday, a government official said. (Andrew Biraj/Reuters)
Bangladesh factory building collapse kills nearly 100
Serajul Quadir and Ruma Paul Reuters
7:49 a.m. EDT, April 24, 2013
DHAKA (Reuters) – An eight-storey block housing garment factories and a shopping center collapsed on the outskirts of the Bangladeshi capital on Wednesday, killing nearly 100 people and injuring hundreds more, officials said.
Fire fighters and army personnel worked frantically through the day at the Rana Plaza building in Savar, 30 km (19 miles) outside Dhaka, to rescue people trapped in the rubble. Television showed young women workers, some apparently semi-conscious, being pulled from the debris.
One fireman told Reuters that about 2,000 people were in the building when the upper floors jolted down on top of each other.
Bangladesh’s booming garment industry has been plagued by fires and other accidents for years, despite a drive to improve safety standards. In November last year, 112 workers were killed in a blaze at the Tazreen factory in a nearby industrial suburb.
“It looks like an earthquake has struck here,” said one resident as he looked on at the chaotic scene of smashed concrete and ambulances making their way through the crowds of workers and wailing relatives.
“I was at work on the third floor, and then suddenly I heard a deafening sound, but couldn’t understand what was happening. I ran and was hit by something on my head,” said Zohra Begum a worker at one of the factories.
An official at a control room set up to provide information about the missing and injured said that 96 people were confirmed dead and more than 700 were injured.
CRACKS IN THE BUILDING
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 told Reuters he was unaware of any warnings not to open the workshops.
“There were some crack at the second floor, but my factory was on the fifth floor,” said Muhammad Anisur Rahman. “The owner of the building told our floor manager that it is not a problem and so you can open the factory.”
He said that his firm had been sub-contracted to supply Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world’s largest retailer, and Europe’s C&A.
Last November’s factory fire put a spotlight on global retailers that source clothes from Bangladesh, where low wages – as little as $37 a month for some workers – have helped propel the country to no. 2 in the ranks of apparel exporters.
It emerged later that a Wal-Mart supplier had subcontracted work to the Tazreen factory without authorization.
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.
(Additional reporting by Andrew Biraj; Writing by John Chalmers; Editing by Nick Macfie)