Six Bangladeshis were killed in a fire at a supermarket in the labour area of Queenstown, South Africa, early Tuesday local time, according to relatives citing Bangladeshis in the country. Five of the dead were from Narayanganj’s Alirtek and Baktabali unions, while another was from Munshiganj. Grief spread through the villages of Middle Krokarchar, Tailkhirarchar and Kanainagar as families appealed for the bodies or remains to be brought home.

The victims were identified as Apon Ahmed, Fahim, Nur Mohammad, Faisal, Shahin and Razzak. Supermarket owner and Alirtek Union Parishad member Rowshan Ali said seven people had been sleeping in the shop’s residential room when the fire spread during the night. Six died at the scene and one injured person is receiving hospital treatment. Relatives said most of those killed were their families’ main earners.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, and local police are investigating, Rowshan Ali said. Relatives sought assistance from Bangladesh’s foreign ministry, the Bangladesh High Commission in South Africa and relevant authorities for repatriation. Narayanganj Deputy Commissioner Raihan Kabir said officials would quickly contact the affected families once formal information is received from the embassy.