Tragic Clothing Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Takes at Least 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 people have died after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the death toll could increase.
16 bodies have been found but were charred beyond recognition, the fire service said.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their loved ones still not found.
The fire, which started at the factory around noon, was brought under control after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, emergency services confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports reported.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also releases hazardous smoke when combusted.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he noted.
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 was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to journalists.
The devastating event has once again underscored the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a significant contributor to economic income for the country.
