Tragic Garment Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Takes at Least 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 people have lost their lives after a huge fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the number of victims could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred impossible to identify, the firefighters stated.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their dear ones still not found.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, 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 was the origin point.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also produces toxic fumes when burned.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director informed the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he added.
Tearful family members stood 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, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to news media.
The tragic incident has another time emphasized the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a major contributor to economic income for the nation.
