Deadly Clothing Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Takes at Least 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 individuals have perished after a huge fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the death toll could increase.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were charred beyond recognition, the fire service said.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their loved ones still not found.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around midday, was put out after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources indicated.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also produces toxic fumes when burned.
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 functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he mentioned.
Crying family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he expressed to journalists.
The tragic incident has another time emphasized the security issues affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs millions of workers and is a crucial contributor to economic income for the country.
