A woman, named Reshma, has been pulled alive from the ruins of a building that collapsed in a suburb of Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, 17 days ago.

The head of the fire service earlier said Reshma had been found in the remains of the second floor of the eight-storey Rana Plaza.

Reshma had no serious injuries and had been talking with rescuers, he added.

The dramatic news came after the army said more than 1,000 people were now known to have died in the disaster.

Reshma has been found in the remains of the second floor of the eight-storey Rana Plaza in Dhaka

The death toll is expected to keep climbing, as work crews using heavy machinery have begun removing rubble from the worst-damaged areas.

On Friday afternoon, army officers ordered workers to stop clearing the site when Reshma’s cries were heard. Officers immediately ordered workers to stop clearing the site.

Detection equipment was sent in and they saw a woman waving her hand. She shouted “I’m still here” and said her name was Reshma.

Within minutes, hundreds of soldiers and firefighters rushed to the scene to help clear the rubble.

Cutting and drilling equipment was brought in to get through iron rods and debris. Not long afterwards, she was pulled from the rubble and the crowd erupted in cheers.

Not long afterwards, rescuers pulled her from the rubble. Reshma has been taken to a military hospital.

Rescuers said it was possible that the woman survived because of the large quantities of oxygen and water that were pumped into the ruins in the early stages of the rescue effort.