Tragic Clothing Factory Blaze in the South Asian nation Takes at Least 16 Lives
At least 16 persons have died after a massive fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the number of victims could climb.
16 bodies have been recovered but were charred impossible to identify, the fire department stated.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their loved ones still not found.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities reported.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports said.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Synthetic materials also emits toxic fumes when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official told the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he added.
Weeping family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he expressed to news media.
The devastating event has yet again emphasized the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a major provider of export earnings for the nation.
