Tragic Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Lives
At least 16 people have died after a massive fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the fatality count could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were burned unrecognizable, the fire department stated.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in seeking their family members still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which started at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts reported.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also releases toxic fumes when combusted.
Police and military officers are still searching for the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Crying family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he told news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has once again highlighted the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages millions of workers and is a significant contributor to economic income for the nation.
