Deadly Clothing Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Takes at Least 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 people have died after a enormous fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned beyond recognition, the fire department stated.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in seeking their dear ones still missing.
The inferno, which started at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources indicated.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also emits poisonous gases when burned.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he noted.
Tearful family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he expressed to reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again emphasized the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages countless of workers and is a significant contributor to foreign revenue for the South Asian economy.
