Deadly Garment Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Takes at Least 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 people have lost their lives after a massive fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the death toll could climb.
A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were incinerated unrecognizable, the firefighters reported.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in search of their family members still not found.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around midday, was put out after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports indicated.
Fire service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also releases hazardous smoke when combusted.
Security personnel are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he noted.
Tearful family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately 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 child back," he told reporters.
The devastating event has once again underscored the security issues facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages millions of workers and is a significant source of foreign revenue for the South Asian economy.
