Devastating Clothing Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Takes at Least 16 Fatalities
At least 16 people have died after a enormous fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could rise.
16 bodies have been found but were charred impossible to identify, the firefighters stated.
Distraught relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their dear ones still not found.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around midday, was extinguished after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, authorities confirmed.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, media reports reported.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also releases hazardous smoke when burned.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director briefed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he added.
Crying family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he expressed to reporters.
The tragic incident has yet again emphasized the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs numerous of workers and is a crucial contributor to economic income for the South Asian economy.
