Inferno in Bangladesh factory leaves 25 dead
A Bangladeshi rescue worker and a volunteer carry the body of a victim from the site of an explosion in a factory in Tongi, Dhaka, on September 10, 2016. The factory supplies multinational and domestic brands, including British-American Tobacco Ltd and Nestle Bangladesh Ltd. PHOTO | AFP
What you need to know:
- Around 100 people were working when flames tore through the four-storey building in the industrial town of Tongi, just north of Dhaka.
- The tragedy struck as families were preparing to celebrate the major Muslim festival of Idd-al-Adha.
DHAKA
At least 25 people have been killed and 70 injured, many critically, in a huge fire triggered by a boiler explosion at a Bangladeshi packaging factory on Saturday.
Around 100 people were working when flames tore through the four-storey building in the industrial town of Tongi, just north of Dhaka.
Parvez Mia, a doctor at the Tongi government hospital, said the death toll was at 25, up from 22 previously reported.
The fire started in the boiler room at Tampaco Foils Ltd factory, which supplies foreign and domestic brands.
“We still have not controlled the blaze and we fear some workers are still trapped in the factory,” police inspector Aminul Islam said.
Mia said seriously injured victims had been sent to hospitals in the capital.
“Several are very critical,” he added. Factory electrician Mohammad Rokon, 35, escaped with minor injuries.
“I was working in the office room when I heard an explosion and felt a tremor. Then suddenly the ceiling started to fall on me,” he said from his hospital bed.
“I almost became unconscious. But I went out with the help of my phone’s flashlight.”
Machine operator Rubel Hossain was two minutes away from entering the factory when the blast occurred.
“I heard a huge explosion and saw smoke and fire coming out of the factory. I feel lucky and heartbroken,” he said, tearfully as he helped rush the injured to hospital.
The tragedy struck as families were preparing to celebrate the major Muslim festival of Idd-al-Adha.
“My brother Delwar Hossain told us last night he would take us to our district of Sherpur. Now he is going to be buried there,” said Khaleda Begum, the sister of a worker killed in the accident.
“Idd is ruined for our family.”
Chemicals may have been stored on the ground floor of the factory, helping to explain how the blaze that began at 6am spread fast, said Tahmidul Islam of Bangladesh’s industrial police unit.
The factory supplies multinational and domestic brands, including British-American Tobacco Ltd and Nestle Bangladesh Ltd.
The head of Bangladesh’s factory inspection department said a team had been set up to investigate the fire.
