Devastating Clothing Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 individuals have perished after a massive fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services cautioning that the number of victims could increase.
16 bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire department stated.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in seeking their dear ones still unaccounted for.
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 reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources reported.
Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic materials and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also emits toxic fumes when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director told reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also currently underway, he added.
Tearful family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he told news media.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs millions of workers and is a major contributor to foreign revenue for the nation.
