Employees of a garment factory that collapsed in Bangladesh this week were told to work today, April 25, despite warnings that the location was unsafe according to Reuters.
Approximately 260 people were killed earlier this week when the factory collapsed and an unknown number of people currently remain trapped under the rubble.
"I thought there was an earthquake," said Shirin Akhter, 22, who was starting her day at the New Wave Style workshop, six floors up, when the complex collapsed. Akhter was trapped for more than 24 hours before breaking through a wall with a metal bar.
Survivors have stated they heard a "deafening bang" before the eight-floor building fell. Over 2,000 people have been rescued over the past two days according to Dhaka District police chief Habibur Rahman.
Local residents used flashlight and crowbars to look for survivors last night, finding bodies "twisted" underneath the wreckage of the building, which is located 20 miles outside the capital of Dhaka.
Despite police telling the owner of the building, local politician Mohammed Sohel Rana, that it was not safe to operate near the area, he asked surviving employees to come in anyway.
Approximately 3,122 workers showed up for work yesterday according to police.
"We asked the garment owners to keep it closed," said Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Mohammad Atiqul Islam according to Reuters.
The government declared a national day of mourning and flags were flown half mast at all official buildings.
"An unspecified number of victims are still trapped," said Mizanur Rahman, a rescue worker with the fire brigade, as he clambered over the wreckage. "We can't be certain of getting them all out alive. We are losing a bit of hope."
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