Deadly Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 persons have perished after a enormous fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the number of victims could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were burned unrecognizable, the fire service said.
Distraught relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in seeking their dear ones still not found.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around noon, was put out after multiple hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, officials reported.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts reported.
Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also produces poisonous gases when combusted.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official told the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Weeping family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he told journalists.
The devastating event has another time highlighted the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial contributor to export earnings for the country.
