Tragic Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Claims no Fewer than 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 individuals have died after a enormous fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the death toll could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred beyond recognition, the fire service stated.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the four-level factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around noon, was put out after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities confirmed.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources indicated.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also releases toxic fumes when combusted.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official briefed the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he noted.
Tearful family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he told news media.
The tragic incident has once again underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages numerous of workers and is a major provider of foreign revenue for the country.
