Poochandi

June 04, 2010

Rescuers called off the search for survivors today as the death toll from one of Bangladesh's worst fires rose to 108 after flames ripped through a packed neighbourhood of Dhaka, officials said.

The blaze raged for three hours, destroying a row of multi-storey apartment buildings and trapping hundreds of residents in Dhaka's densely populated Kayettuli area, city police chief A K M Shahidul Haq told AFP.

"At least 108 people have died including those who expired in hospitals. The toll may rise as quite a few are in critical condition," district administrator Muhibul Haque said.

The blaze has been put out and a search-and-rescue effort halted after firefighters scoured "every inch of the fire-hit buildings", Dhaka fire department chief Abu Nayeem told AFP.