112 Dead in Bangladesh Garment Factory Fire

At least 112 people were killed in a fire that raced through a multi-story garment factory just outside of Bangladesh's capital, an official said today. The blaze broke out at the seven-story factory operated by Tazreen Fashions last night. By this morning, firefighters had recovered 100 bodies, a fire department director tells the AP. He said another 12 people who had suffered injuries after jumping from the building to escape the fire later died at hospitals.

The death toll could rise as the search for victims was continuing, he said. Local media reported that up to 124 people were killed in the fire. The cause of the blaze was not immediately clear, and authorities have ordered an investigation. Bangladesh has some 4,000 garment factories, many without proper safety measures. The fire department director says most of the victims had been trapped inside the factory, located just outside of Dhaka, with no emergency exits leading outside the building. (More Bangladesh stories.)