Deadly Garment Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Has Taken at Least 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 individuals have lost their lives after a enormous fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the fatality count could rise.
16 bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire department said.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their loved ones still not found.
The blaze, which started at the factory around midday, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts reported.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also releases toxic fumes when ignited.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he added.
Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again underscored the security issues affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs numerous of workers and is a major provider of foreign revenue for the nation.
