Tragic Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes at Least 16 Lives
A minimum of 16 persons have perished after a massive fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the number of victims could increase.
16 bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the firefighters reported.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in seeking their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around midday, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports reported.
Fire service officials have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also releases toxic fumes when burned.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director informed journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he noted.
Tearful family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he told journalists.
The devastating event has yet again underscored the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages countless of workers and is a major provider of export earnings for the nation.
