A crime scene ribbon surrounds the burnt building in Dhaka on March 29, 2019, a day after flames tore through the 22-storey FR Tower. (Photo: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images)
The death toll from a terrifying blaze that ripped through a Bangladesh tower rose on Friday to 25 as authorities vowed tough action to improve lax safety standards. The latest deadly blaze to hit Bangladesh’s congested capital city of Dhaka tore through the 22-story FR Tower on Thursday, leaving some of the hundreds trapped inside screaming for help as horrified onlookers gathered outside.
Firefighters backed by military specialists — some in helicopters — tackled the flames, lowering ropes to help people escape, while rescuers on long ladders smashed through windows. But firefighters were hampered by not having ladder cranes tall enough to reach the top floors, officials said.
The fire was later extinguished, and on Friday firefighters completed the process of combing through the gutted and blackened floors of the building.
The fire department initially put the death toll at 19 but police said Friday that six more had perished. Another was in critical condition at a hospital.
There was no immediate indication if others are missing, but more than 70 people were treated in hospitals just after the blaze. (AFP)
Bangladeshi firefighter work on ladders to eclipse a blaze in a building Banani. A huge fire split through an office building at least 21 deaths in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo: K M Asad/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Bangladeshi army rescue alive a man when huge fire split through an office building at least 21 deaths in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo: K M Asad/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Bangladeshi firefighters work to eclipse a blaze in a building Banani. A huge fire split through an office building at least 21 deaths in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo: K M Asad/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Bangladeshi firefighters rescue alive a man when huge fire split through an office building at least 19 deaths in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (Photo: K M Asad/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Bangladeshi onlookers gather around the burnt building in Dhaka on March 29, 2019, a day after flames tore through the 22-storey FR Tower. (Photo: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images)
Wreckage of the burnt building is seen in Dhaka on March 29, 2019, a day after flames tore through the 22-storey FR Tower. (Photo: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images)
Firefighters try to extinguish fire in high-rise office building in Dhaka, Bangladesh on March 28, 2019. (Photo: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images)
A Bangladeshi survivor reacts after being rescued by firefighters from a burning office building in Dhaka on March 28, 2019. (Photo: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images)
A man trapped inside a burning office building gestures at Bangladeshi firefighters for help in Dhaka on March 28, 2019. (Photo: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images)
A Bangladeshi survivor is taken to hospital after being rescued by firefighters from a burning office building in Dhaka on March 28, 2019. (Photo: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images)
In this image made from video, firetrucks hose down a building on fire in the Banani area of Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 28, 2019. (AP Photo)
Bangladeshi firefighters on ladders work to extinguish a blaze in an office building in Dhaka on March 28, 2019. (Photo: Munir Uz Zaman/AFP/Getty Images)
In this image made from video, firetrucks hose down a building on fire in the Banani area of Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 28, 2019. (AP Photo)
A firefighter works to douse a fire in a multi-storied office building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)
Locals help firefighters douse a fire in a multi-storied office building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)
A Bangladeshi, stuck in a multi-storied office building on fire, speaks on his mobile phone in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)
A commuter watches firefighters work to douse a fire in a multi-storied office building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)
Firefighters work to douse a fire in a multi-storied office building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu )
Locals help firefighters work to douse a fire in a multi-storied office building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)
A chopper hovers to evacuate people stuck in a multi-storied office building that caught fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu )
Firefighters work to douse a fire in a multi-storied office building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)
Firefighters evacuate an injured after a multi-storied office building caught fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu )
Firefighters work to douse a fire in a multi-storied office building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu )
A hand sticks out of a broken glass in a multi-storied office building that caught fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu )
Firefighters work to douse a fire in a multi-storied office building in Dhaka, Bangladesh, March 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu )
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