Tragic Clothing Factory Inferno in the South Asian nation Claims a Minimum of 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 persons have lost their lives after a enormous fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the death toll could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were charred beyond recognition, the fire service stated.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in seeking their loved ones still missing.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, authorities reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources said.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also produces hazardous smoke when burned.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he added.
Crying family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he told reporters.
The tragic incident has once again emphasized the security issues facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages countless of workers and is a crucial provider of foreign revenue for the country.
