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Death toll in Dhaka fire rises to 114

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The death toll in a residential complex fire on Thursday night in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka rose to 114 on Friday, as five more bodies were discovered in the ruins, officials said.

Local residents and fire fighters work at the scene, the aftermath of a devastating fire in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, early June 4, 2010. At least 87 people were killed and over 100 injured in the devastating fire that broke out late Thursday in a chemical factory in Dhaka. [Cheng Zhang/Xinhua]

Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dhaka Md. Mohibul Haque told Xinhua on Friday, "the death toll rose to 114 from 109 as local people found 5 bodies in drainage ditch adjacent to the fire affected residential complexes."

According to the DC, the devastating fire broke out at about 08: 45 p.m. local time Thursday following explosion of an electrical transformer and it soon spread to some 7-9 houses in the congested residential area of the old part of the Dhaka city.

The Bangladeshi government on Friday announced that Saturday will be a national day of mourning for those who died in the fire.

Bangladesh's Ministry of Home Affairs has already formed a three-member committee. The committee has been asked to submit its report by seven days.

This is the second deadly disaster to strike the capital in 48 hours after a five-story building collapsed on Tuesday night, killing 25 people.

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