The fire was initially thought to have been triggered by a powerful boiler explosion but officials later said they have found the factory tank intact fuelling speculation that a gas leak could be the reason behind the blast.
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The death toll from a boiler explosion and subsequent fire at a packaging factory in Bangladesh over the weekend has risen to 31 after more bodies were found in the debris.
Around 100 people were working when flames tore through the four-storey building in the industrial town of Tongi, just north of the capital Dhaka.
Two global coalitions were formed in the wake of the Rana Plaza disaster to help fund improvements to building and fire safety at thousands of garment factories across Bangladesh.
Local TV stations said about 50 people were injured.
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”.
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.
The packaging factory supplies brands including British American Tobacco and Nestle Bangladesh, according to its website.
Bangladesh factory inspector general Syed Ahmed said an investigation would occur into the cause of Saturday’s accident.
The district administration listed 12 factory workers as still missing after the accident, Abul Hashem, a magistrate of Gazipur district, told reporters.
‘I have already been asked to formulate a project to inspect all the factories in all four industrial zones in the country, ‘ he added. It also raised renewed questions about industrial safety in Bangladesh, one of the world’s top garment exporters.
The post Factory fire leaves 24 dead in Bangladesh appeared first on Vanguard News.
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The paper said at least 10 people were killed and 20 injured, citing hospital sources.
