Bangladesh factory building collapse kills 147

DHAKA (Reuters) – The number of people killed by the collapse of a building in Bangladesh’s capital rose to 147 overnight and the death toll could climb further because many people are still trapped inside, Dhaka’s district police chief told Reuters today.

“The death toll could go up as many are still trapped under the rubble,” Habibur Rahman said, a day after the collapse of the eight-storey building on the outskirts of Dhaka that housed several garment factories.

Officials said yesterday more than 1,000 people had been injured in the accident.

One fireman told Reuters about 2,000 people were in the Rana Plaza building in Savar, 30 km (20 miles) outside Dhaka, when its upper floors slammed onto those below. An official at a control room set up to provide information said 96 people were confirmed dead and more than 1,000 injured. The Daily Star, a leading Bangladeshi newspaper, put that number at 106.

At the site of the collapsed Rana Plaza building, a frantic effort was underway to find and rescue victims. Television reports showed young women workers, some apparently semi-conscious, being pulled out by firefighters and troops.

Doctors at local hospitals said they were unable to cope with the number of victims brought in.
The building collapse, which follows a November fire at the Tazreen Fashion factory on the outskirts of Dhaka that killed 112 people, has compounded concerns about worker safety and low wages in Bangladesh.
The two major incidents, and a third in January that killed seven people, could taint Bangladesh’s reputation as a source of low-cost products and services and call attention to Western retailers and other companies that obtain products from the country. But industry people and worker’s groups in the United States say the lure of cheap manufacturing costs will keep retailers and buyers turning to Bangladesh.

Edward Hertzman, a sourcing agent based in New York who also publishes the trade magazine Sourcing Journal says pressure from US retailers to keep a lid on costs continues to foster unsafe conditions. Hertzaman’s clients include clothing manufacturers and retailers like PacSun, Oxford Industries Lucky, Buffalo.
Following the Tazreen fire, giant US retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc said it would take measures to alleviate safety concerns, while Gap Inc announced a four-step fire-safety programme.