Fire destroys shanty town

– A fire tore through a slum in southern Bangladesh yesterday killing at least nine people and destroying hundreds of homes, police said.

The blaze broke out in the port city of Chittagong and raced through the district of bamboo, tin and tarpaulin homes, said local police chief Pranab Chowdhury.

“At least 470 shanties were destroyed by the fire. So far nine people have died. They included four members of a family.” – AFP