Asia-Pacific

Bangladesh building fire kills at least 43 and leaves dozens injured, minister says

Blaze originally began in a restaurant in the country’s capital Dhaka and quickly spread to other floors

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire in a building in Dhaka, Bangladesh on February 29th. Photograph: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP via Getty

Thu Feb 29 2024 - 22:02

A massive fire raced through a six-storey building in Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka late on Thursday, killing at least 43 people and injuring dozens, the country’s health minister said.

The fire originated in a restaurant and quickly spread to other floors. At least 43 people have died and 22 others are being treated at two major health facilities with burn wounds, health minister Samanta Lal Sen told reporters after visiting the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

All 22 people admitted with severe burns are in critical condition, Sen said.

It was not immediately clear what caused the blaze, fire officials said.

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Fires are common in densely populated Dhaka. In recent years there has been a boom in new buildings, often constructed without proper safety measures. Fires and explosions have occurred due to faulty gas cylinders, air conditioners and bad electrical wiring. – Reuters

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024

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