Dhaka - At least 70 people have been killed and many more are feared trapped after an eight-storey building collapsed in the Bangladeshi capital, Dhaka during the morning rush hour today.

At least 200 others were injured in the collapse. The eight-storey building housed a clothing factory, a bank and several other shops.

The BBC reports that it is not yet clear what caused the collapse but local media said a crack was detected in the block yesterday.

Local police chief Mohammad Asaduzzaman told Reuters that factory owners appeared to have ignored a warning not to allow their workers into the building after the crack was detected. Police told local media the rear of the building began to collapse this morning and within a short time the whole structure had caved-in.

BBC