At least 43 dead as devastating blaze rips through high-rise building in Bangladeshi capital

Firefighters battle a fire raging on a building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 29, 2024. At least 43 people were killed Thursday night after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise building in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. (Xinhua)

DHAKA, March 1 (Xinhua) -- At least 43 people were killed Thursday night after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise building in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka.

Minister of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh Samanta Lal Sen told Xinhua early Friday that they had confirmed the deaths.

The minister said 33 bodies were brought to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital and 10 others to the Sheikh Hasina National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka.

Anwarul Islam, an inspector of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters in Dhaka, earlier told Xinhua that around 75 people, including 42 in an unconscious state, were rescued from the "Green Cozy Cottage Shopping Mall" and were rushed to several hospitals.

Islam said rescuers were working at the site. He said they sent the firefighters after receiving information about the fire around 9:30 p.m. Thursday local time. At least 12 firefighting units rushed to the spot and doused the fire at about 11:30 p.m.

The official said the seven-storeyed building houses a restaurant, an outlet and several other shops.

The death toll in the devastating inferno is likely to rise, warned another fire official, who did not want to be named.

TV reports early Friday showed fires were still raging in some parts of the building. The cause of the fire could not be known immediately.

Photo taken on Feb. 29, 2024 shows fire raging on a commercial building in Dhaka, Bangladesh. At least 43 people were killed Thursday night after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise building in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. (Xinhua)

Firefighters battle a fire raging on a building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 29, 2024. At least 43 people were killed Thursday night after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise building in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. (Xinhua)

People help firefighters to battle a fire raging on a commercial building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 29, 2024. At least 43 people were killed Thursday night after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise building in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. (Xinhua)

Rescued people are transferred to safe place in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 29, 2024. At least 43 people were killed Thursday night after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise building in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. (Xinhua)

Rescued people are transferred to safe place in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 29, 2024. At least 43 people were killed Thursday night after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise building in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. (Xinhua)

Firefighters battle a fire raging on a building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 29, 2024. At least 43 people were killed Thursday night after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise building in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. (Xinhua)

Firefighters conduct rescue work at the site of a building fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 29, 2024. At least 43 people were killed Thursday night after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise building in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. (Xinhua)

Rescued people are transferred to safe place in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 29, 2024. At least 43 people were killed Thursday night after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise building in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. (Xinhua)

Rescued people are seen on a fire ladder at the site of a building fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 29, 2024. At least 43 people were killed Thursday night after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise building in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. (Xinhua)

Firefighters conduct rescue work at the site of a building fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 29, 2024. At least 43 people were killed Thursday night after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise building in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. (Xinhua)

Firefighters conduct rescue work at the site of a building fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 29, 2024. At least 43 people were killed Thursday night after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise building in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. (Xinhua)

Firefighters conduct rescue work at the site of a building fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 29, 2024. At least 43 people were killed Thursday night after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise building in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. (Xinhua)

Rescued people are seen on a fire ladder at the site of a building fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 29, 2024. At least 43 people were killed Thursday night after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise building in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. (Xinhua)

Firefighters conduct rescue work at the site of a building fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 29, 2024. At least 43 people were killed Thursday night after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise building in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. (Xinhua)

Firefighters conduct rescue work at the site of a building fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Feb. 29, 2024. At least 43 people were killed Thursday night after a devastating fire tore through a high-rise building in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. (Xinhua)