Deadly Clothing Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 people have died after a massive fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the death toll could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred beyond recognition, the fire service said.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in seeking their family members still missing.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was extinguished after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources indicated.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also produces poisonous gases when burned.
Security personnel are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official briefed journalists.
An inquiry 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 holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"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 reporters.
The tragic incident has yet again emphasized the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages countless of workers and is a crucial source of export earnings for the nation.
