Devastating Garment Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Takes at Least 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 people have perished after a huge fire broke out at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been recovered but were charred unrecognizable, the fire department reported.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in search of their loved ones still not found.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was brought under control after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials reported.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, journalistic accounts said.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also emits toxic fumes when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Weeping family members stood outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically 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 loved one back," he stated to news media.
The tragic incident has once again emphasized the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs countless of workers and is a crucial contributor to foreign revenue for the country.
