Dozens dead in Bangladesh explosion, blaze

By Mainul Islam Khan

DHAKA, Bangladesh

At least 24 people died in a factory boiler blast and fire in Tongi, a township to the north of Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka, on Saturday, police said.

Deputy Insp. Malek Khasru Khan said 74 were injured in the 6.15 a.m. local time (0015GMT) explosion at the Tampaco Foils packaging plant in an industrial area.

The industrial disaster is the worst to hit Bangladesh since the Rana Plaza building collapse in April 2013, which killed 1,137 mostly garment workers.

Fire service official Mosharrof Hossain said the death toll was expected to rise as firefighters searched for survivors amid the ruins of the five-storey building.

According to the Prothom Alo newspaper’s website, factory owner Syed Moqbul Hossain said he was unaware of any problems that might have led to an explosion.