The fire burned for more than 24 hours before being brought under control on Friday morning, after which rescue operations began. According to the Fire Services Department, 128 bodies have been recovered so far, of which 89 remain unidentified. Among the dead is also a member of the fire service.
A total of 79 people were injured in the blaze. During a press briefing, fire officials said the fire originated at the lower levels of the building and quickly spread upward. The exact cause of the fire, however, is still under investigation.
Officials noted that temperatures inside the building exceeded 500 degrees Celsius at one point. Due to the extreme heat, flames reignited in several areas even after firefighters had initially extinguished them.
Authorities said it could take several days to determine the precise cause of the incident.
Nearly 2,500 fire service personnel were deployed to combat the blaze, with 12 firefighters sustaining burn injuries. The operation involved 391 fire engines and 188 ambulances. No helicopters or drones were used, as aerial water drops were deemed ineffective for a fire contained inside a building.
Source: BBC
