A rapid structural assessment of the fatal collapse of an eight-story reinforced-concrete building near Dhaka, Bangladesh, uncovered major flaws in the building’s construction and multiple causes for the April 24 disaster. The building in Savar had been turned into a garment factory. To date, there have been more than 700 fatalities. The death toll is expected to rise to 1,000.
The tragedy has triggered a review of factories in Bangladesh, which exports $20 billion worth of garments annually. Original plans and structural drawings of buildings associated with members of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association have been taken over by the Bangladesh Army for a review for modification, rectification or shutdown.