A Bangladesh health minister confirmed that the massive fire that raced through a six-story building overnight in the country's capital, Dhaka, has killed at least 43 people.
The Bailey Road building houses mainly restaurants and several apparel and mobile phone stores.
Bangladesh Building Fire Kills 43 People
Bangladesh's health minister Samanta Lal Sen told AFP after visiting the Dhaka Medical College Hospital and a nearby burn hospital, "So far, 43 people have died from the fire."
Sen reported that at least 40 injured people were treated in the city's main burn hospital.
According to the Fire department official Mohammad Shihab, the fire at 9:50 pm on Thursday started in a popular biriyani restaurant on Bailey Road in Dhaka. The fire quickly spread to the top floors, trapping many people.
Shihab said that the fire was contained in two hours by firefighters. A statement from the fire service claimed that they rescued 75 people alive.
Sohel, a restaurant manager, shared that they were at the sixth floor when they first saw the smoke racing through the staircase, and many people rushed upstairs. The manager said they used a water pipe to climb down the building, and some of them were injured as they jumped from upstairs.
Furthermore, others called out for assistance as they were stuck on the rooftop.
Kamruzzaman Majumdar, a professor of environmental science, wrote in a Facebook post, "Alhamdulillah," as they were sending down all the women and children, including his wife and children. He added, "We all men are in rooftop. Fire service stands beside us. Fifty yet to be down."
Majumdar was later rescued safely.
Bangladesh has a high rate of apartment building and industry complex fires due to the neglectful enforcement of safety regulations.
Bangladesh Factory Fire Kills 3, Injures 30
According to France 24, the police reported that three people were killed and at least 30 were injured in a large fire that broke out in a factory in Bangladesh, with some people jumping from the upper floors to escape the fire.
It was unclear how many people were trapped inside, though distraught families outside and other factory workers worried others might not have escaped.
Police and witnesses said the fire started at Hashem Food and Beverage factory in Rupganj, an industrial town outside Dhaka, at about 5:00 pm Thursday and was still burning on Friday morning.
Jayedul Alam, regional police chief, told AFP that three people have died after they sustained burn injuries.
Police inspector Sheikh Kabirul Islam reported that at least 30 people were hurt, including some who jumped from the upper floor as the fire swiftly spread through the six-story factory.
Furthermore, authorities later withdrew their initial statement that dozens of workers were still missing and said they were unsure how many were unaccounted for.
Firefighters rescued 25 people from the factory roof that manufactured noodles and drinks but could not confirm any further casualties.
