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BOILER BLAST

Massive blaze at Bangladesh cigarette factory kills 23 as rescue workers desperately hunt for survivors

The incident is the latest in a series of industrial accidents in the South Asian country that is one of the world's top garment exporters

A DEVASTATING fire ripped through a food and cigarette packaging factory in Bangladesh and killed at least 23 people after a boiler exploded.

More than two dozen people have been injured from the blaze and partial collapse of the four-storey building.

Smoke and flames billow from a burning garment factory in Tongi
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Smoke and flames billow from a burning garment factory in TongiCredit: Getty Images
Fire fighters with the help of locals try to douse a fire originated following a boiler explosion
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Fire fighters with the help of locals try to douse a fire originated following a boiler explosionCredit: Barcroft Media
Firefighters carry a victim to an ambulance after an explosion in a factory
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Firefighters carry a victim to an ambulance after an explosion in a factoryCredit: EPA
Firefighters remove a dead body at a garment packaging factory
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Firefighters remove a dead body at a garment packaging factoryCredit: Reuters
Firefighters extinguish a fire at a garment packaging factory outside of Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Firefighters extinguish a fire at a garment packaging factory outside of Dhaka, BangladeshCredit: Reuters
An injured person rescued from a fire is taken into an ambulance
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An injured person rescued from a fire is taken into an ambulanceCredit: AP:Associated Press
Black smoke fills the air as the fire raged on in Bangladesh this morning
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Black smoke fills the air as the fire raged on in Bangladesh this morningCredit: AP:Associated Press
Firefighters desperately battled the flames as they tried to rescue the unknown people who could still be trapped inside
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Firefighters desperately battled the flames as they tried to rescue the unknown people who could still be trapped insideCredit: AP:Associated Press
It is thought the fire was caused by a boiler exploding when works changed shifts this morning
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It is thought the fire was caused by a boiler exploding when works changed shifts this morningCredit: AP:Associated Press
About 20 firefighting teams were called to tackle the blaze which ripped through the four-storey building
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About 20 firefighting teams were called to tackle the blaze which ripped through the four-storey buildingCredit: AP:Associated Press

There are fears the death toll could rise as emergency services fight their way through the rubble.

The cause of the fire in the Tongi industrial zone - about 20km north of the capital Dhaka, was not immediately known, but officials have said a boiler explosion probably triggered it.

The fire started at about 8am as workers prepared to swap shifts, and the blaze is now under control.

Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman, a fire official at the site, said: "We cannot confirm if people are inside, but our priority is to rescue them if there is anyone."

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"There were about 100 people inside when the fire broke out,"; Mohammad Nayan, a worker assisting with rescue efforts, told reporters.

More than 20 firefighting teams battled the flames.

Officials of Tampaco Foils, where the fire broke out, could not immediately be reached for comment.

People try to help the firefighters to extinguish a fire at a garment packaging factory outside Dhaka
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People try to help the firefighters to extinguish a fire at a garment packaging factory outside DhakaCredit: Reuters
People look on as thick smoke pours from the building which was destroyed by a huge fire this morning
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People look on as thick smoke pours from the building which was destroyed by a huge fire this morningCredit: Reuters
Rescue team members remove a dead body at a garment packaging factory after a fire broke out outside of Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Rescue team members remove a dead body at a garment packaging factory after a fire broke out outside of Dhaka, BangladeshCredit: Reuters
At least 23 people have been killed in the fire this morning, with fears the death toll will rise
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At least 23 people have been killed in the fire this morning, with fears the death toll will riseCredit: EPA
The destruction of the building can be seen from afar as it has collapsed following the fire
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The destruction of the building can be seen from afar as it has collapsed following the fireCredit: Getty Images
Firefighters worked hard to put out the fire which is thought to have started as a boiler exploded this morning
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Firefighters worked hard to put out the fire which is thought to have started as a boiler exploded this morningCredit: EPA
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On its website, the company lists major international brands, such as British American Tobacco and Nestle , among its customers.

The incident is the latest in a series of industrial accidents in the South Asian country that is one of the world's top garment exporters.

In 2013, the collapse of Rana Plaza, a building outside Dhaka, killed 1,135 workers mainly employed in the garment industry.

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