Devastating Garment Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Lives
At least 16 individuals have died after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the death toll could rise.
16 bodies have been found but were burned unrecognizable, the fire department said.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the four-level factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources said.
Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also emits poisonous gases when combusted.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director briefed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.
Crying family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he expressed to journalists.
The catastrophic occurrence has another time underscored the security issues facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages numerous of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the South Asian economy.
