Scores dead in Bangladesh factory fire

  • 12 years ago
Scenes of disaster in Bangladesh, where more than 100 people died as a fire swept through a garment factory.

The blaze began on Saturday (November 24) night, on the ground floor of this factory at an industrial estate near the capital.

It quickly spread through the nine-story building, trapping hundreds of workers - most of whom were women.

The recovered bodies were taken to a makeshift morgue nearby.

Witnesses said many people were unable to get to safety because of narrow exits in the building.

Officials fear the death toll could rise even further.

The incident is the worst to hit the industry in recent years.

Bangladesh is the world's biggest exporter of clothing after China, with garments making up 80 percent of annual exports.

But safety standards at factories are poor, and scores of accidents are caused every year.

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