Devastating Garment Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 persons have perished after a enormous fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the death toll could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned beyond recognition, the fire service stated.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in seeking their dear ones still missing.
The fire, which started at the factory around noon, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities confirmed.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports said.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also produces toxic fumes when burned.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.
Weeping family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to journalists.
The tragic incident has once again underscored the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs numerous of workers and is a crucial provider of foreign revenue for the South Asian economy.
