Devastating Clothing Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken at Least 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 persons have died after a massive fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the death toll could increase.
16 bodies have been recovered but were charred impossible to identify, the fire department reported.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-level factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in search of their family members still not found.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after several hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources indicated.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also emits hazardous smoke when ignited.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official briefed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he noted.
Crying family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he stated to reporters.
The devastating event has another time highlighted the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a significant contributor to economic income for the country.
