Deadly Clothing Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 people have perished after a huge fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the fatality count could rise.
16 bodies have been recovered but were charred unrecognizable, the firefighters said.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their family members still not found.
The fire, which started at the factory around noon, was extinguished after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, officials said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources reported.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings caught fire first.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also produces toxic fumes when combusted.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official told journalists.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he added.
Tearful family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd 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 daughter back," he told reporters.
The devastating event has yet again emphasized the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial provider of economic income for the South Asian economy.
