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A two story house made of bamboo and tin collapsed at Hjipara Jheel, near Dhaka, Bangladesh, on April 15, 2015 at 3:30 PM (local time). There were 14 rooms on each floor, and each room was inhabited by an entire family. The rooms were rented for BDT.3, 500 ($44) per month.
The location of the building on a polluted, swampy wetland meant that it was very difficult for people inside the building to survive, as the rubble from the building pushed into the water.
Casualty rates are currently 12 dead and 100 missing.
Locals claim that the main reason of the collapse was lack of a proper foundation. Add to this the fact that the building owner built an additional floor on the building 5 months ago with the aim of increasing profits. Survivors of the collapse said the building began vibrating and shaking in bizarre ways after the second floor was added.
The collapse highlights the problem of shoddy housing in Bangladesh’s heavily impoverished areas. There was no government oversight or intervention to monitor and prevent the construction and habitation of such a poorly constructed building. The collapse spurred protests from the Bangladesh Communist Party calling on the government to step up regulations on building safety and exploitation of the poor.
The Bangladesh Communist Party holds a protest after the housing collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 16 April 2015.
Relatives of people missing in the house collapse wait at Hajipara Jheel, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 16 April 2015.
Samia and her mom shortly after being rescued safely from the wreckage of the housing complex April 16, 2015.
A survivor of the housing collapse in his new house. April 16, 2015.
A man still waiting for his missing family members at a temporary house near the collapsed building in Hajipara Jheel, Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 16, 2015.
A picture floats in the swampy wreckage of the collapsed housing complex April 16, 2015.
A man waits for his missing family members at a temporary house near the collapse housing complex in Hajipara Jheel, Dhaka, Bangladesh. April 16, 2015.
Firefighters try to rescue the missing people from the collapsed, two story house inHajipara Jheel, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The collapse of the house, which was built on swampy ground killed 12 people and more than 100 people are still missing.
Firefighters try to rescue the missing people from the collapsed, two story house inHajipara Jheel, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The collapse of the house, which was built on swampy ground killed 12 people and more than 100 people are still missing.
A remaining tin shed over the Hajipara Jheel, Dhaka, Bangladesh, after the collapse of a two storied tin and bamboo housing structure.
Firefighters try to rescue the missing people from the collapsed, two story house inHajipara Jheel, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The collapse of the house, which was built on swampy ground killed 12 people and more than 100 people are still missing.
Najrul Islam waits at a temporary shelter for missing family members still trapped inside the collapsed housing structure.
4 year Samia girl was rescued from the rubble of the collapsed housing complex.
A man waits for his missing family members after the collapse of two storied tin-shed house in Hajipara Jheel, Dhaka, Bangladesh, on April 16, 2015.
Families gather goods salvaged from the wreckage of the building complex at a temporary shelter.
Two women wait at a temporary shelter for their family members still trapped in the wreckage of the collapsed house.
Survivors living in a temporary shelter after the house collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh, April 16, 2015.
Shefali Begum wails as she mourns the loss of her young son Saiful, who was killed in the housing collapse.
A man is showing his stitched hand after he was injured in the housing collapse.
Sisters Rubina & Asha lost everything in the bulding collapse. Now they wonder how they will start all over again.
Remaining tin sheds over the Hajipara Jheel, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 16 April 2015 after the collapse of two storied tin and bamboo housing structure.
Survivors of the building collapse take refuge in makeshift shelters as the rescue and salvage mission continues.
Khalil (L) and Arif (R) in disbelief after the death of Saiful, a young boy in their family.
A rescued goat stands on some bricks after being salvaged from the wreckage of the collapsed housing project.
Firefighters try to rescue the missing people from the collapsed, two story house inHajipara Jheel, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The collapse of the house, which was built on swampy ground killed 12 people and more than 100 people are still missing.