Cracks were noticed two days ago in a building that collapsed in Bangladesh, killing at least 145 people and injuring more than a thousand others, it has been claimed.
Survivors say they were made to carry on working in the eight-storey block despite concerns about its safety.
The building, in Savar on the outskirts of the capital Dhaka, housed at least four factories producing clothes for leading Western retailers.
The high street giant Primark has confirmed that one of its suppliers occupied the second floor of the building.
Bosses at the retailer say they were "shocked and saddened" by the collapse.
In a statement released on the company's website, a Primark spokesman said: "The company is shocked and deeply saddened by this appalling incident at Savar, near Dhaka, and expresses its condolences to all of those involved.
Thousands gathered on the streets where the building collapsed "Primark has been engaged for several years with NGOs and other retailers to review the Bangladeshi industry's approach to factory standards. Primark will push for this review to also include building integrity."
Army Brigadier General Mohammed Siddiqul Alam Shikder said late on Thursday that many people were still trapped in the building.
The disaster came less than five months after a factory fire killed 112 people and underscored the unsafe conditions faced by Bangladesh's garment workers.
Workers said they had hesitated to enter the building on Wednesday morning because it had developed such large cracks a day earlier that it even drew the attention of local news channels.
Just hours later the building came tumbling down.
Hundreds of factory workers were trapped inside the building Tens of thousands of people have gathered at the site, weeping and searching for family members.
Searchers worked through the night to get through the jumbled mess of concrete with drills or their bare hands, passing water and flashlights to those pinned inside the building.
"I gave them whistles, water, torchlights. I heard them cry. We can't leave them behind this way," said fire official Abul Khayer.
Abdur Rahim, who worked on the fifth floor, said a factory manager gave assurances that the cracks in the building were no cause for concern, so employees went inside.
"After about an hour or so, the building collapsed suddenly," Mr Rahim said.
The next thing he remembers is regaining consciousness outside.
On a visit to the site, Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir told reporters the building had violated construction codes and that "the culprits would be punished."
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Bangladesh: Cracks In Building Were Ignored
Dengan url
http://mukenyerate.blogspot.com/2013/04/bangladesh-cracks-in-building-were.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Bangladesh: Cracks In Building Were Ignored
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Bangladesh: Cracks In Building Were Ignored
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar