Deadly Garment Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Has Taken a Minimum of 16 Victims
No fewer than 16 people have lost their lives after a massive fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities warning that the number of victims could increase.
Sixteen bodies have been retrieved but were charred unrecognizable, the firefighters said.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on that day in search of their family members still missing.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around noon, was brought under control after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse kept burning, officials reported.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, news sources indicated.
Fire department authorities have not ascertained which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also emits hazardous smoke when combusted.
Security personnel are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury briefed reporters.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he added.
Crying family members waited outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to reporters.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the safety concerns affecting Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs millions of workers and is a significant provider of export earnings for the nation.
