Deadly Clothing Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Has Taken at Least 16 Lives
At least 16 persons have perished after a massive fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the death toll could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were charred unrecognizable, the fire service reported.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in looking for their loved ones still not found.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services confirmed.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources said.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also emits poisonous gases when combusted.
Security personnel are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told the media.
An inquiry 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 holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to reporters.
The devastating event has yet again highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a major provider of economic income for the country.
