Devastating Clothing Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
At least 16 persons have perished after a enormous fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the death toll could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were burned unrecognizable, the fire service said.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around noon, was put out after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, officials said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports said.
Fire service officials have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also produces poisonous gases when combusted.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official briefed journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Crying family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he told journalists.
The devastating event has once again underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs countless of workers and is a major contributor to economic income for the nation.
