Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- At least five people were killed and around two hundred injured on Wednesday morning when an eight-storey building collapsed in Savar, on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka.
The casualty figures are set to rise as several hundred people are feared trapped inside, locals said.
Fire brigade workers and army personnel with their medical core joined the rescue operation with police and volunteers to search for victims who are trapped under the debris.
The building “Rana Plaza” situated near Savar Bus Stand, collapsed at around 8:45am. It had developed several cracks earlier. It housed a market and several garment factories, according to reports.
“We could not yet specify the number of casualties as the rescue operation continues,” a local police official said immediately after the incident.
BBN/SSR/AD-24Apr13-12:13 pm (BST)