Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) - Death toll in the massive Thursday’s fire rose to 117 with the recovery of three more bodies from the debris in the capital, Dhaka, officials confirmed.
Dhaka's Deputy Commissioner Mohibul Haque reportedly confirmed the number of deaths, saying that 102 bodies were handed over to their relatives.
The fire broke out in a chemical factory in the densely-populated Old Dhaka following explosion of two electric transformers at about 9:20 p.m. local time, police and local people said.
The cause of the flames could not yet be known for certain, but one thing is sure chemicals that had been stored in one of the buildings fed into the massive fire.
Meanwhile, a three-member enquiry committee, headed by additional secretary of Home Ministry Iqbal Khan Chowdhury, was formed early Friday to investigate the incident. The committee was asked to submit its report within seven days.
This is the second deadly disaster to strike in Bangladesh capital in 72 hours after a five-story building collapsed Tuesday night, killing 25 people.
BBN/SS/SI/AD-05June10-3:10 pm (BST)