UAE leaders condole president of Bangladesh on Dhaka victims

Dubai - At least 81 people were killed.

President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has sent a cable of condolences to President of Bangladesh, Mohammad Abdul Hamid, on the victims of a devastating fire in a historic district of Dhaka that resulted in a number of deaths and injuries.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, have also dispatched similar cables of condolences to President of Bangladesh.
At least 81 people were killed when fire tore through crumbling apartment blocks in a historic part of Dhaka, setting off a chain of explosions and a wall of flames down nearby streets, officials said on Thursday.
It started in one building where chemicals for deodorants and other household uses were illegally stored and spread at lightning speed to four nearby buildings, the fire service said.
People became trapped by the flames at a nearby bridal party and a restaurant. TV images showed the gates to one building were chained up so residents were unable to escape. Traffic jams in the clogged narrow streets held up the rescue operation.

• UAE
• Dubai