70 killed in Dhaka building collapse

At least 70 people were killed and several others feared dead on Wednesday when an eight-storey commercial building collapsed in Dhaka.

Scores of people were feared trapped inside the debris of the Rana Plaza, a building housing nearly three hundred shops in suburban Dhaka.

"We assume scores of people are still trapped inside and many of them have died.  We are continuing the salvage campaign," a fire service official said.

A senior army officer, who was overseeing the rescue campaign, said at least 500 people had been injured and they were sent to different facilities for treatment.

An eyewitness said that cracks were seen in the building on Tuesday.

Television footage showed rescue workers dropping water bottles and dry food to the basement of the building where several people were trapped.

"It was a big bang and suddenly the building caved in," a resident was quoted as saying by a TV channel.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina asked the authorities concerned to start the rescue operation immediately.

Bangladesh witnessed its last major building collapse in 2005 when over 70 people were killed after a multi-storey garment factory collapsed in the same area.