Tragic Clothing Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Takes a Minimum of 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 people have died after a massive fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the death toll could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire department reported.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in seeking their family members still not found.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials confirmed.
Up until 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 department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored industrial bleaches, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also produces poisonous gases when combusted.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed reporters.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he mentioned.
Tearful family members gathered outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them 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 told journalists.
The tragic incident has yet again highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages countless of workers and is a major source of foreign revenue for the country.
