Tragic Garment Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Takes at Least 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 people have lost their lives after a enormous fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the death toll could climb.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were burned beyond recognition, the fire department stated.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in seeking their family members still not found.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports reported.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also produces toxic fumes when combusted.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director informed journalists.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he noted.
Crying family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them 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 cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he told reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again emphasized the security issues affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial contributor to economic income for the nation.
