Dhaka:
The death toll from Bangladesh's worst industrial disaster exceeded 800 on Wednesday as rescuers pulled out dozens more bodies from the rubble of a nine-storey building that collapsed outside Dhaka last month.
"The death toll now stands at 803" with 790 bodies recovered from the wreckage and 13 victims who died in hospital, Lieutenant Mir Rabbi, an official in the army control room set up to coordinate the disaster relief efforts, said.
More than 3,000 garment workers were on shift at the Rana Plaza complex at the time of the collapse on the morning of April 24, making clothing for Western retailers such as Britain's Primark and the Spanish label Mango.
Officials overseeing the disaster operation have said a total of 2,437 people have been rescued from the ruins of the building which housed a total of five garment factories in the town of Savar, a suburb of the capital Dhaka.
Many bodies were found in the staircases as panicked garment workers had rushed away from their floors after hearing a loud noise. The Rana Plaza collapsed within five minutes, leaving them trapped.
Efforts to identify the victims are being hampered by the decomposition of bodies. Recovery workers, who are drawn from the ranks of the army and fire service, are having to wear masks and use air freshener.
Fearful that Western brand names may turn their back on Bangladesh, the government announced a new high-level panel on Monday to inspect thousands of garment factories for building flaws.
The April 24 collapse was the latest in a string of deadly accidents to hit the textile industry. A factory fire last November killed 111 garment workers.