Fire races through clothing market in Bangladesh capital

ABC News:

DHAKA,Bangladesh — A massive fire was burning in a popular market for cheaper clothes in Bangladesh’s capital Tuesday morning.

The fire started at Bangabazar Market in Dhaka at 6:10 a.m. but no casualties were reported immediately, Rafi Al Faruk told The Associated Press by phone.

He said firefighters from 47 units were working to douse the massive blaze.

“We have no immediate reports of any casualties,” he said.

Anwarul Islam, another fire service official, said they had no idea about how the fire originated.

Fires often take place in commercial places in Bangladesh because of lax monitoring and lack of fire safety arrangement. But the country’s massive garment industry, which experienced massive disasters including devastating fires in the past, has improved significantly over the last decade.