Bangladesh fire: 15,000 homes destroyed in Dhaka slum

[muriel_volestrangler]

A massive fire has swept through a slum in the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, leaving 50,000 people homeless.

About 15,000 homes were destroyed in the Chalantika slum late on Friday.

Many homes had plastic roofs, which helped the flames to spread. No deaths have been reported, although several people were injured.

Most residents are low-wage earners and many were away after the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. There is no word on the cause of the fire.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-49382682

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. 50,000? AFP is saying "At least 10,000."

Granted "At least 10,000" includes 50,000, but the difference should be noticeable.

At least 10,000 people are homeless after a massive fire swept through a crowded slum in the Bangladesh capital and destroyed thousands of shanties, officials said

Link to tweet

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. BBC has updated at the link:

The number of people made homeless by the fire is unclear, with Reuters news agency reporting it to be 3,000 people and AFP putting the number at 10,000.

Earlier reports suggested the number was as high as 50,000.