Bangladesh building collapse toll at 348

SAVAR, Bangladesh -- Police in Bangladesh took six people into custody in connection with the collapse of a shoddily constructed building that killed at least 348 people, as rescue workers admitted Saturday that voices of survivors were getting weaker after four days of being pinned under the increasingly unstable rubble.

Still, in a boost for the rescuers, 29 survivors were pulled out yesterday, an army spokesman said. Since the collapse, 2,429 people have been saved.

Most of those killed were crushed by massive blocks of concrete and mortar falling on them when the eight-story structure came down Wednesday morning -- a time many of the garment factories in the building were packed with workers.

It was the worst tragedy to hit Bangladesh's massive garment industry, and focused attention on the poor working conditions of the employees who toil for $38 a month to produce clothing for top international brands.

Among those arrested yesterday were two owners of a garment factory, who a Dhaka court ruled can be questioned by police for 12 days without charges being filed.

Also detained are two government engineers and the wife of the building owner, who is on the run, in an attempt to force him to surrender. Late Saturday, police arrested another factory owner.