Tragic Garment Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Has Taken at Least 16 Lives
A minimum of 16 people have perished after a huge fire broke out at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the death toll could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were incinerated beyond recognition, the firefighters stated.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their dear ones still not found.
The inferno, which started at the factory around lunchtime, was extinguished after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, emergency services reported.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports reported.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse housed chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Plastic also releases hazardous smoke when burned.
Police and military officers are still searching for the owners of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the fire service official told journalists.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.
Tearful family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has another time underscored the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a crucial source of economic income for the country.
