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Dhaka (ANTARA News / Xinhua-Oana) - At least 87 people were killed and more than 100 people were injured by the fires which destroyed many buildings and occurred Thursday night in the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka.

Fire Service Officers and Civil Defence of Bangladesh, Nayeem Md Shahidullah said, Friday morning, at least 87 people were killed in the fire, including those who died after being sent to various hospitals.

Said the fire was started from a chemical factory in the old city of Dhaka, at around 21:20 local time, Thursday. The flames quickly spread to at least five homes and an adjacent residential area, making hundreds of residents trapped in a densely populated area.

The red rooster began to flare due to an explosion at an electrical substation, and then spread to the residential and commercial buildings, witnesses said.

Firefighters immediately rushed to the scene of the fire and with difficulty managed to control the flames after the fire lasted for more than three hours.

Shahidullah said the rescue operation is still ongoing and they hope to stop the operation in half an hour.

It was the second deadly disaster that struck the capital city of Bangladesh within 72 hours after a five-floor building collapsed on Tuesday night, killing 25 people.