The cause of the fire in the Tongi industrial zone about 20 km (12 miles) north of the capital, Dhaka, was not immediately known, but officials said a gas line leak and a boiler explosion probably triggered it.
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The death toll in the fire tragedy at a Bangladeshi factory today climbed to 29 after four more bodies were retrieved from under the debris of the collapsed building as fire fighters continued their search for missing persons.
At least 26 people have been killed in a massive blaze at a factory that packages for Nestle and other companies.
According to police, about 100 people were in the four-storey building at the time, including machine operators and guards.
Thirteen people are being treated for burn injuries at the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, including six in critical condition, Mohammed Bacchu Mia, a police officer at the hospital, said Monday.
Critics, however, say the focus on clothing factories has left less money and manpower to monitor other industries.
Fire official Mohammed Rafiquzzaman said several bodies have been recovered from the explosion at a factory in the Tongi industrial area outside Dhaka.
Director-General Guy Ryder has said in a statement that though Bangladesh has addressed the issue, the Tampaco factory fire drives home that “there can be no room for complacency and much ground still needs to be covered”.
That tragedy triggered worldwide outrage and successfully put pressure on USA and European clothing brands to improve deplorable safety conditions at the factories that supply them. “We will take care of them”, said Syed Mokbul Hossain, chair of Tampaco and a former member of parliament.
At least 1,129 people were killed in 2013 in the Savar Upazila of Dhaka after an eight-story commercial building named Rana Plaza collapsed.
Can Bangladesh safety accord bring change?
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At least 30 people were injured, as flames spread quickly through the building.
