Tragic Garment Factory Blaze in Bangladesh Takes at Least 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 people have perished after a huge fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services stating that the death toll could rise.
16 bodies have been recovered but were incinerated beyond recognition, the firefighters stated.
Distraught relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in looking for their family members still unaccounted for.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around midday, was brought under control after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources indicated.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse stored bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Plastic also releases hazardous smoke when combusted.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director told journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he noted.
Tearful family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man looking frantically for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"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 told news media.
The tragic incident has yet again underscored the hazardous conditions facing Bangladesh's garment industry, which engages numerous of workers and is a crucial provider of export earnings for the South Asian economy.