adminrescuers also believe that many more are still alive in the wreckage.
In one of the worst building collapses ever in Bangladesh, officials said rescuers have so far pulled alive more than 2 000 people including 41 early yesterday.
“The death toll from the building collapse has climbed to 271,” Wali Ashraf, a police official at a control room set up to provide information about the disaster fatalities, told Xinhua Friday morning.
He said 41 trapped people were rescued alive from beneath the rubble of the eight-storey building early yesterday, keeping alive the hope that more lives can be saved as the rescue operation continues. Of the bodies, he said 223 have so far been handed over to their relatives. Rescuers with support of hundreds of volunteers and locals also worked frantically through the second consecutive night to rescue people who are still believed to be trapped inside.
They say the salvage operations at the site will continue until today before the process to remove the wreckage begins. The eight-storey building Rana Plaza in Savar on the outskirts of capital Dhaka crumbled like a pack of cards on Wednesday.
Following the cracks which were detected just one day before the accident, the workers were evacuated and the garments authorities declared a leave for Tuesday.
But nobody was much bothered about the cracks when officials of the factories forced the workers on the next morning to join workplaces in the building. Six floors of the building, owned by a leader of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s ruling Bangladesh Awami League party who reportedly constructed the building without permission from relevant authorities, assured owners of the factories there was no problem despite cracks detected. — Xinhua.
Online Reporter