Devastating Clothing Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken at Least 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 individuals have perished after a enormous fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were burned unrecognizable, the firefighters reported.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their family members still missing.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts indicated.
Fire service officials have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also releases toxic fumes when burned.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director briefed reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he noted.
Tearful family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he told reporters.
The tragic incident has yet again emphasized the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs countless of workers and is a significant contributor to export earnings for the South Asian economy.