43 Killed Over Bangladesh Shopping Mall Fire
- AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu
Bangladesh – A massive fire swept through a multi-story building in the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, and at least 43 people were killed on Thursday (February 29).
Bangladesh's Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Samanta Lal Sen, said on Friday morning, March 1, 2024, that they had confirmed the deaths.
The minister said 33 bodies were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and 10 others to the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka.
Kebakaran Gedung Bertingkat di Bangladesh (Doc: The Sundaily)
- VIVA.co.id/Natania Longdong
Anwarul Islam, an inspector at the Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters in Dhaka, had earlier said that about 75 people, including 42 unconscious individuals, were rescued from the "Green Cozy Cottage Shopping Center" and taken to several hospitals.
Islam said that rescue teams were working at the scene.
"We sent firefighters after receiving information about the fire around 9:30 p.m. local time," Islam remarked.
At least 12 fire units rushed to the scene and extinguished the fire around 11:30 p.m. Officials said the seven-story building housed a restaurant, retail outlets, and several other shops.
The death toll from the devastating fire is likely to rise, said another fire official.
TV reports on Friday morning showed the fire still raging in parts of the building. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
