Rescue workers try to retrieve the workers trapped in debris of a collapsed factory building in Savor, Bangladesh, on April 11.

The garment factory in Savar, 32 km northwest of the capital, Dhaka, was packed with night-shift workers when it suddenly collapsed April 11. Survivors said the building collapsed after a boiler exploded, but officials said the boiler had been discovered "intact."

Engineers said poor quality building materials and faulty construction of the building on low-lying marsh land without proper foundations had led to its collapse. Two government bodies have launched an investigation into the accident, officials said.

The garment industry is Bangladesh's biggest export sector, employing about 1.8 million low- paid workers. Poor safety standards in the industry frequently result in accidents.

The Japan Times Weekly: April 23, 2005
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