Deadly Clothing Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Claims at Least 16 Fatalities
At least 16 persons have lost their lives after a huge fire started at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the death toll could climb.
16 bodies have been found but were charred impossible to identify, the fire department stated.
Heartbroken relatives assembled outside the four-storey factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in looking for their dear ones still not found.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around noon, was put out after three hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, officials said.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been completely doused, journalistic accounts indicated.
Fire department authorities have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse stored chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and chemical peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also releases poisonous gases when combusted.
Law enforcement and armed forces are still searching for the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the fire service official informed journalists.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was functioning with proper authorization is also in progress, he mentioned.
Weeping family members stood outside the burned buildings, many of them holding photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man looking frantically for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I rushed here. But I still have been unable to find her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to news media.
The catastrophic occurrence has yet again highlighted the security issues facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which employs numerous of workers and is a crucial source of export earnings for the nation.
