Deadly Garment Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Has Taken at Least 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 people have lost their lives after a huge fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the death toll could rise.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred unrecognizable, the firefighters stated.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in search of their loved ones still missing.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse kept burning, officials confirmed.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources said.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also emits poisonous gases when ignited.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official told journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he added.
Crying family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again underscored the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial source of foreign revenue for the country.
