Deadly Clothing Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Claims a Minimum of 16 Lives
A minimum of 16 individuals have perished after a massive fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the death toll could climb.
16 bodies have been retrieved but were charred beyond recognition, the fire service reported.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their dear ones still not found.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials reported.
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 reported.
Fire service officials have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also releases toxic fumes when burned.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still attempting to find the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director told journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he added.
Crying family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he told reporters.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs numerous of workers and is a significant contributor to export earnings for the nation.
