Deadly Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Claims a Minimum of 16 Fatalities
A minimum of 16 persons have lost their lives after a massive fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the death toll could increase.
A total of sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the fire service stated.
Grief-stricken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on Tuesday in seeking their loved ones still not found.
The blaze, which broke out at the factory around midday, was brought under control after three hours. But an adjacent chemical warehouse kept burning, 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, media reports said.
Emergency responders have not determined which of the two buildings caught fire first.
Based on witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained industrial bleaches, plastic materials and chemical peroxide, all of which can worsen fires. Polymer products also produces toxic fumes when ignited.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury told the media.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also in progress, he added.
Tearful family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them holding photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his loved one.
"When I learned of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to journalists.
The devastating event has another time emphasized the hazardous conditions affecting Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which provides jobs for millions of workers and is a significant contributor to economic income for the country.
