17 killed, 100 injured in Bangladesh building blast

Police and medics said, at least 17 people were killed and more than 100 injured after an explosion struck an office building in the Bangladeshi capital’s commercial district on Tuesday.

The blast shook the lower floors of a seven-story building in Gulistan, a major hub for wholesale goods in Dhaka shortly before 5 p.m. local time. Several floors of the building and the side walls were destroyed in the explosion, which sent rubble and splinters flying into crowded streets.

According to the fire service, there was a sanitary shop on the ground floor of the building. The explosion hit the ground floor and damaged several upper floors.

A fire official said the number of casualties may increase as search and rescue work is ongoing.

The cause of the blast has not been specified yet.

Sources: CGTN

Photo Credit: GMA Network