Devastating Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken at Least 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 persons have perished after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the fatality count could climb.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were charred impossible to identify, the fire service reported.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in looking for their dear ones still missing.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, emergency services confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts indicated.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also emits poisonous gases when combusted.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official informed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he noted.
Tearful family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he told news media.
The devastating event has yet again emphasized the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a significant contributor to economic income for the country.
