Deadly Clothing Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Claims a Minimum of 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 people have perished after a enormous fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities cautioning that the death toll could rise.
16 bodies have been found but were charred impossible to identify, the fire department said.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in seeking their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The fire, which broke out at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, 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, media reports indicated.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also emits poisonous gases when ignited.
Security personnel are still searching for the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed journalists.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Tearful family members waited outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to news media.
The devastating event has another time underscored the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages millions of workers and is a major provider of export earnings for the country.
