11 people killed in Bangladesh hut collapse

At least 11 people were killed on Wednesday after a two-storey tin hut collapsed into a lake in this Bangladesh capital.

Authorities believe the toll may rise, as many other people were still feared trapped under the rubble.

The incident happened around 3.30 p.m. Police said 28 people lived in the hut that stood on bamboo poles beside a hyancith-filled lake in Rampura, bdnews24.com reported.

"The lower storey has been sucked in by the mud at the bottom of the lake," said Rampura Police Inspector Md. Alamgir Hossain.

Eleven bodies were recovered until 9 p.m., he added.

Four fire service units were taking part in the rescue operations, said control room official Md. Enayet Hossain.

Three divers of the fire service also joined the rescue efforts.

Rescuers tried to remove the tin ceilings from the mud by cutting off the bamboo poles but failed. They later used cranes to remove the frame of the hut, which was floating.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina offered her sympathies over the casualties, according to her office's media wing.

Nasrin Akter, sister of two deceased people, Runa and Jakir, said they had moved to a room of the lower storey last month and they were about to shift next month.

"The hut was so flimsy that it would shake when someone walked. We were very scared during the storm a few days ago.

"I was on the first floor when the incident happened. My husband Khokon, Runa and Jakir were on the lower storey," she said.

Khokon was rescued alive, but her siblings were found dead.

She said that at least 40 people were in the hut when it collapsed and half of them were still missing.