290 confirmed dead in Bangladeshi sweatshop building collapse. Up to 1,000 still missing

[cali]

Last edited Fri Apr 26, 2013, 04:14 AM - Edit history (1)

The search for survivors from Bangladesh's worst industrial accident stretched into a third day on Friday, with the death toll rising to 273 after the collapse of a building housing factories that made low-cost garments for Western brands.

Almost miraculously, 41 people trapped inside the rubble of the eight-storey building were rescued alive late on Thursday, government minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak said, about 40 hours after the disaster on the outskirts of Dhaka.


Nanak said they had been working on the fourth floor of the Rana Plaza building and had all been found trapped in one room. Few other details were available.

Around 2,000 people have been rescued over the past two days, at least half of them injured, but as many as 1,000 people remain unaccounted for.

An industry official has said 3,122 people, mainly female garment workers, were inside the building despite warnings that it was structurally unsafe.

<snip>

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/26/us-bangladesh-building-idUSBRE93N06P20130426

edited to change the number of the dead.

[Luminous Animal]

1. Whatever. Dead people? I love my kicky new dress.

[LuvNewcastle]

2. Some people pay the ultimate price for our cheap garments.

[cali]

3. Since I posted less than an hour ago: Death toll now up to 290

I can't help but wonder if the CEOs of the companies manufacturing at that pit, feel any guilt.

http://www.chron.com/news/world/article/Toll-in-Bangladesh-building-collapse-climbs-to-290-4465414.php

[laundry_queen]

5. Probably not

Assholes are likely more worried about 'being caught'. I think the building's owners are said to have fled.

One of the companies this place made clothes for was a Canadian company and this is big news here - people are pissed, but I'm thinking - where do people THINK these things are made? I mean...do people not understand the 'real' cost of $8 pants? The company issued a pretty lame statement at first (full of 'but we audit and have standards!') and were criticized, so then they released another statement saying they would take action to make sure this didn't happen again. Um, sure. The media here, however, as been on it, and I wouldn't doubt this Canadian company is going to see blowback from this for sure.

As mentioned in another thread - it's time we do something about this...and 'doing something' does not necessarily mean making other countries follow our rules (although that should be a stipulation in ANY overseas contract....these dumbass companies should not be allowed to get away with that) it can also mean increasing wages, as people are feeling so squeezed, so they often cut spending in the areas that they can so they can maintain a particular lifestyle. Increase wages and people won't feel like they HAVE to buy cheap shit to survive. Tax companies that manufacture overseas. Require someone from the company be 'on site' at the manufacturing areas at all times. Something has to be done.

[hootinholler]

6. Updated article now 305 n/t

[cali]

4. kick

[Mnemosyne]

7. Kick

[cali]

8. death toll now over 350. survivors are still alive in the rubble

but obviously running out of time. 19 were rescued today. hundreds are unaccounted for.

[Quantess]

9. K & R

[Judi Lynn]

10. Thanks for the info. Unbearable. Rec. n/t

[cali]

11. Sunday morning update

<snip>

The death toll now stands at 363. No one knows for sure how many remain unaccounted for. More than 600 by some counts.

<snip>

Over the weekend, rescuers found an outstretched hand sticking out from the rubble. In the man's clenched fist, a crumpled piece of paper.

"Dear father and mother," it read. "Please forgive me that I can't buy your medication anymore. Dear brother, please tend to our parents."

The note then named the village the victim was from. "Please send my body there."

<snip>

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/28/world/asia/bangladesh-building-collapse/?hpt=hp_t1