Tragic Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Has Taken at Least 16 Lives
At least 16 persons have lost their lives after a massive fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities cautioning that the death toll could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were burned beyond recognition, the fire department stated.
Distraught relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in seeking their family members still missing.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around midday, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services said.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources said.
Fire service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Synthetic materials also produces toxic fumes when ignited.
Security personnel are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he noted.
Crying family members waited outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he told journalists.
The tragic incident has another time underscored the hazardous conditions plaguing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which employs millions of workers and is a significant provider of economic income for the country.
