Tragic Garment Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Claims no Fewer than 16 Lives
A minimum of 16 people have died after a huge fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the number of victims could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were charred beyond recognition, the fire department stated.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the four-level factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in looking for their dear ones still not found.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities reported.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources reported.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also emits toxic fumes when burned.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he mentioned.
Crying family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has another time highlighted the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs millions of workers and is a crucial provider of economic income for the nation.
