Devastating Clothing Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Has Taken at Least 16 Fatalities
At least 16 individuals have lost their lives after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could increase.
16 bodies have been recovered but were charred unrecognizable, the fire service said.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their family members still not found.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around noon, was put out after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials confirmed.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts indicated.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also releases poisonous gases when ignited.
Security personnel are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director briefed the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he added.
Crying family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he told news media.
The devastating event has another time emphasized the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a major provider of economic income for the South Asian economy.
