Deadly Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Claims no Fewer than 16 Lives
A minimum of 16 individuals have died after a huge fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials stating that the death toll could climb.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire service stated.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts said.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, plastic and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also releases hazardous smoke when burned.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director briefed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.
Crying family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I rushed here. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he expressed to news media.
The tragic incident has another time underscored the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages numerous of workers and is a significant contributor to economic income for the country.
