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Deadly Blaze Destroys Buildings in Bangladeshi Capital


Bangladeshi medical officials are struggling to treat the victims of a fire that has killed at least 114 people in the capital, Dhaka.

According to local news reports, the state-run Dhaka Medical College has admitted at least 100 people with burn injuries, since the huge fire destroyed several buildings in Dhaka's densely-populated old section.

Bangladeshi officials said the blaze started Thursday night when an electrical transformer exploded. Witnesses say chemicals inside shops worsened the fire as it spread through apartment buildings.

Narrow roads in the centuries-old Kayettuli neighborhood hampered rescue efforts, leaving many residents trapped inside the area's tightly-packed buildings.

The Bangladeshi government has declared Saturday a national day of mourning. The fire was the second deadly accident in Dhaka this week. On Tuesday, a building collapsed, killing at least 25 people.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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