Devastating Clothing Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Takes a Minimum of 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 people have lost their lives after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned unrecognizable, the fire department stated.
Distraught relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their dear ones still not found.
The blaze, which started at the factory around midday, was put out after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports said.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also produces hazardous smoke when combusted.
Police and military officers are still searching for the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director informed journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.
Crying family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he expressed to news media.
The devastating event has yet again emphasized the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs countless of workers and is a major provider of foreign revenue for the South Asian economy.
