Tragic Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
At least 16 people have died after a enormous fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the number of victims could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were burned unrecognizable, the fire department stated.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, officials said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources indicated.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also produces toxic fumes when combusted.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director briefed the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he noted.
Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to news media.
The devastating event has yet again highlighted the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a crucial contributor to foreign revenue for the nation.
