Tragic Garment Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Claims no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
At least 16 people have died after a enormous fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the death toll could climb.
A total of sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were burned impossible to identify, the fire department stated.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their family members still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around midday, was extinguished after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources indicated.
Fire service officials have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also releases toxic fumes when burned.
Security personnel are still searching for the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he noted.
Weeping family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to journalists.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs numerous of workers and is a significant provider of economic income for the nation.
