Riyadh, Aug 10 (V7N)- At least 16 Bangladeshi expatriate workers have been killed in a devastating fire at a sofa factory in Saudi Arabia’s capital, Riyadh.
The fire broke out at the factory on Sunday, trapping a number of Bangladeshi workers inside, according to expatriate welfare sources and international media reports.
Eyewitnesses and local residents said at least 17 Bangladeshi workers were inside the factory when the fire suddenly erupted. Most of the victims are reportedly from Atrai Upazila in Naogaon, Bangladesh. They had been working at the Riyadh factory for a long time.
After receiving the information, local firefighters and rescue teams rushed to the scene. They brought the blaze under control and launched a rescue operation.
The Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh has been working to identify the victims and gather further information about the incident.
Several workers reportedly sustained serious burn injuries. As the rescue operation was still underway, authorities feared that the death toll could rise.
The incident has caused deep concern among the Bangladeshi expatriate community in Saudi Arabia, particularly among families awaiting information about their relatives.
END/SMA/AJ
