Fire at Bangladesh garment factory kills at least 9 people

DHAKA, Bangladesh – An official says a fire at a garment factory outside Bangladesh’s capital has killed at least nine people.

Fire official Zafar Ahmed says nine bodies were found inside the four-story building after the fire Tuesday night at the Aswad garment factory in Gazipur outside Dhaka.

Local journalist Iqbal Ahmed said from the scene that the fire occurred when the factory was closed for the day, but some employees were still inside working overtime.

Harsh and often unsafe working conditions in Bangladesh’s garment industry drew global attention after the collapse of an eight-story factory building in April killed more than 1,100 people. The industry has experienced numerous fires, including one last November that killed 112 workers.