Tragic Garment Factory Fire in the South Asian nation Claims a Minimum of 16 Victims
At least 16 individuals have perished after a massive fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the number of victims could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were burned impossible to identify, the fire department said.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in looking for their family members still missing.
The fire, which erupted at the factory around lunchtime, was put out after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse continued to burn, emergency services confirmed.
As late as 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts reported.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic materials and industrial peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also emits poisonous gases when combusted.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still trying to locate the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire department chief the department director informed journalists.
An probe on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he noted.
Tearful family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them grasping photographs of their lost relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"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 stated to news media.
The devastating event has once again underscored the safety concerns plaguing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a significant contributor to export earnings for the nation.
