Devastating Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Lives
A minimum of 16 persons have perished after a massive fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the death toll could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred impossible to identify, the fire department said.
Grief-stricken relatives converged outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their dear ones still unaccounted for.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports said.
Emergency responders have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also produces toxic fumes when combusted.
Police and military officers are still trying to locate the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official briefed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also currently underway, he mentioned.
Crying family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he stated to reporters.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the security issues affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a significant source of economic income for the nation.
