Devastating Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 persons have perished after a enormous fire started at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise.
16 bodies have been found but were charred unrecognizable, the fire department said.
Distraught relatives converged outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in search of their dear ones still missing.
The inferno, which started at the factory around noon, was put out after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services confirmed.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources indicated.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also emits toxic fumes when ignited.
Security personnel are still searching for the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official informed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he added.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he told news media.
The tragic incident has another time underscored the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages millions of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the country.
