70 confirmed dead in Bangladesh building collapse

At least 70 people have been killed and over six hundred injured after an 8-storey building in Savar on the outskirts of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka collapsed Wednesday.

"The death toll from the collapsed building rose to 70," Bangladeshi Health Minister Ruhal Haque told reporters.

Officials say more than six hundred people have been rushed to hospitals.

With many people believed to be trapped inside, rescuers feared the death toll may rise significantly.

Niilufar Yasmin, a fire service official, said the building which houses a ready-made garment factory, a bank's branch and hundreds of shops collapsed at about 9:00 a.m. local time.

Army personnel were called in to assist rescue workers.

Residents also clawed through piles of rubble to search for survivors, alongside earthmovers and excavators.

Fire fighters, police and army personnel joined volunteers to rescue those still trapped under the debris.

Hundreds of people were pulled out of the rubble alive.

It was reported that only the first floor of the building, which developed several cracks on Tuesday, remained intact.

Doctors said the death toll could rise as some of those injured are in critical condition.

It is not known exactly how many workers were inside the factory when the building collapsed. But sources said about 6,000 workers used to work in the factory.