Tragic Clothing Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Has Taken at Least 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 individuals have died after a massive fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could increase.
16 bodies have been recovered but were incinerated unrecognizable, the firefighters stated.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in search of their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around noon, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, officials said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources reported.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also releases poisonous gases when combusted.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director told journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he mentioned.
Tearful family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to journalists.
The tragic incident has once again underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a significant provider of export earnings for the South Asian economy.
