Deadly Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 people have lost their lives after a huge fire erupted at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services warning that the fatality count could climb.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were burned beyond recognition, the fire department stated.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in search of their dear ones still not found.
The inferno, which erupted at the factory around midday, was put out after three hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials said.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, news sources reported.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Per eyewitnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also emits hazardous smoke when combusted.
Security personnel are still searching for the proprietors of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed journalists.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Weeping family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Among them is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I heard about the fire, I came running. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my child back," he stated to journalists.
The catastrophic occurrence has another time highlighted the safety concerns facing Bangladesh's clothing sector, which provides jobs for numerous of workers and is a crucial source of economic income for the country.
