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112 Dead in Bangladesh Garment Factory Fire

Many workers were trapped inside building

By the Associated Press

Posted Nov 25, 2012 5:17 AM CST

(AP) – At least 112 people were killed in a fire that raced through a multi-story garment factory just outside of Bangladesh's capital, an official said today. The blaze broke out at the seven-story factory operated by Tazreen Fashions last night. By this morning, firefighters had recovered 100 bodies, a fire department director tells the AP. He said another 12 people who had suffered injuries after jumping from the building to escape the fire later died at hospitals.

The death toll could rise as the search for victims was continuing, he said. Local media reported that up to 124 people were killed in the fire. The cause of the blaze was not immediately clear, and authorities have ordered an investigation. Bangladesh has some 4,000 garment factories, many without proper safety measures. The fire department director says most of the victims had been trapped inside the factory, located just outside of Dhaka, with no emergency exits leading outside the building.

Bangladeshi police officers stand guard outside a burnt garment factory outside Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012.
Bangladeshi police officers stand guard outside a burnt garment factory outside Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012.   (AP Photo/Khurshed Rinku)
Relatives of garment factory workers killed in a fire cry as they come to collect bodies from a mortuary in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012.
Relatives of garment factory workers killed in a fire cry as they come to collect bodies from a mortuary in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012.   (AP Photo/Khurshed Rinku)
A Bangladeshi police officer walks between rows of burnt sewing machines in a garment factory outside Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012.
A Bangladeshi police officer walks between rows of burnt sewing machines in a garment factory outside Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Nov. 25, 2012.   (AP Photo/ khurshed Rinku)
Bangladeshi firefighters battle a fire at a garment factory in the Savar neighborhood in Dhaka, Bangladesh, late Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012.
Bangladeshi firefighters battle a fire at a garment factory in the Savar neighborhood in Dhaka, Bangladesh, late Saturday, Nov. 24, 2012.   (AP Photo/Hasan Raza)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 7 comments
dungbeetle
Nov 25, 2012 9:28 PM CST
At least they don't have unions to badger the owners into wasting money on safety measures or to force politicians into enacting good safety legislation. That god for the completely unregulated industrial free enterprise system. Repub heaven. You can always find a Wa-mart or other center of massive greed lusting for you product. Just sayin' . . .
actionbadger
Nov 25, 2012 12:39 PM CST
Ugghhhh and look how many sewing machines they managed to pack into that now burnt-out room.
Techno13
Nov 25, 2012 10:24 AM CST
Sounds like a repeat of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire that happened in New York City on March 25, 1911. At least 146 NYC garment workers died in theTriangle Shirtwaist Factory from the fire, smoke inhalation, or falling to their deaths. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_Shirtwaist_Factory_fire History repeats itself when there are no enforced building/fire codes. The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire was a wake up call for NYC, maybe this fire will be a wake up call for Bangladesh.

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