Deadly Garment Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Takes at Least 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 individuals have perished after a massive fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the death toll could climb.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were charred impossible to identify, the fire department said.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their loved ones still not found.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around noon, was put out after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, officials confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources indicated.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also emits poisonous gases when combusted.
Police and military officers are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he added.
Weeping family members waited outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he stated to reporters.
The devastating event has once again emphasized the security issues affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs millions of workers and is a major contributor to export earnings for the country.
