Deadly Garment Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Claims at Least 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 persons have lost their lives after a enormous fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were charred beyond recognition, the fire department reported.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in search of their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around noon, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports indicated.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also releases toxic fumes when burned.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official told journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he added.
Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has once again highlighted the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages numerous of workers and is a crucial provider of economic income for the nation.
