Fire breaks out at Gazipur garment factory

A fire broke out at a garment factory in Fakir Market in the Degir Chala area of Gazipur this afternoon.

Nine units of the Fire Service and Civil Defence are working to bring the blaze under control.

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So far, 69 workers who were trapped inside the factory and became sick from smoke inhalation have been rescued and taken to different local hospitals, said Saiful Alam Chowdhury, deputy assistant director of Gazipur Fire Service.

He said the fire broke out at Matrix Garments at around 2:45pm. On receiving information, three units from the Gazipur Chowrasta Modern Fire Station initially rushed to the site and began efforts to control the blaze.

As the intensity of the fire increased, one unit from Konabari Fire Service, three units from Gazipur Fire Service and two units from Rajendrapur Fire Service later joined the operation.

He further said the fire originated on the third floor of the seven-storey building housing the factory.

This report was updated with latest information around 6:00pm.