Factory owner held after fire

2008-04-27 19:09

Casablanca - The owner and manager of a mattress factory gutted by fire have been taken into custody, an official said on Sunday, as the death toll was revised upwards to at least 55.

"The plant's owner, Adil Moufarreh, and his son Abdelali Moufarreh, who was the manager, have been taken into custody after having been questioned by police," said the official at the scene of the disaster which took place Saturday.

A local official in Casablanca, Morocco's biggest city, said earlier 54 people had been killed and 17 injured in the fire at the Rosamor Furniture factory.

The latest death toll takes the figure upwards again to at least 55 dead, in addition to 12 injured.

Efforts to identify the victims continued on Sunday with the help of family members, medical personnel and specialist security services, under the supervision of state prosecutors.

- AFP