Devastating Garment Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 individuals have died after a enormous fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services cautioning that the death toll could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned beyond recognition, the fire department reported.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their loved ones still missing.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around midday, was put out after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources indicated.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also produces toxic fumes when burned.
Security personnel are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he noted.
Crying family members waited outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he told news media.
The devastating event has once again emphasized the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages countless of workers and is a significant source of economic income for the country.
