Devastating Garment Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Lives
At least 16 persons have died after a massive fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the fatality count could increase.
16 bodies have been found but were burned unrecognizable, the firefighters stated.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in seeking their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, officials confirmed.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts indicated.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also produces poisonous gases when ignited.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official briefed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to journalists.
The tragic incident has once again emphasized the security issues facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a major source of economic income for the nation.
