Deadly Garment Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Takes at Least 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 people have perished after a massive fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the death toll could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were incinerated impossible to identify, the fire service reported.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in seeking their dear ones still not found.
The blaze, which started at the factory around noon, was put out after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, emergency services confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources reported.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also produces poisonous gases when ignited.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he noted.
Tearful family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to news media.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a major contributor to foreign revenue for the South Asian economy.
