Tragic Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes a Minimum of 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 persons have lost their lives after a massive fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could climb.
16 bodies have been found but were incinerated impossible to identify, the firefighters reported.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, media reports indicated.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also produces hazardous smoke when combusted.
Police and military officers are still searching for the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director informed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he added.
Tearful family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to reporters.
The devastating event has yet again underscored the security issues facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a major source of economic income for the South Asian economy.
