Tragic Garment Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 people have died after a enormous fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the death toll could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned unrecognizable, the fire service said.
Distraught relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in seeking their dear ones still not found.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials reported.
As late as 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 established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also emits hazardous smoke when burned.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.
Tearful family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he expressed to reporters.
The devastating event has once again emphasized the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs numerous of workers and is a significant provider of foreign revenue for the country.
