Devastating Clothing Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 individuals have died after a massive fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were charred beyond recognition, the firefighters reported.
Distraught relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their loved ones still not found.
The inferno, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports indicated.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also emits hazardous smoke when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official informed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Crying family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching 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 hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to journalists.
The tragic incident has yet again emphasized the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a major contributor to export earnings for the country.
