Deadly Garment Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
At least 16 persons have perished after a huge fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the number of victims could climb.
16 bodies have been recovered but were burned beyond recognition, the fire department reported.
Distraught relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their family members still missing.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around midday, was brought under control after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports indicated.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also emits hazardous smoke when combusted.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official informed journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he added.
Weeping family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he stated to reporters.
The catastrophic occurrence has once again emphasized the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs millions of workers and is a major source of foreign revenue for the nation.
