Tragic Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes at Least 16 Lives
No fewer than 16 people have died after a huge fire started at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with officials cautioning that the fatality count could climb.
A total of sixteen bodies have been recovered but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire department stated.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the four-storey factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on that day in seeking their loved ones still unaccounted for.
The fire, which started at the factory around midday, was put out after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials confirmed.
Until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) that day, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, media reports said.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, synthetic polymers and industrial peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Polymer products also produces poisonous gases when combusted.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the fire service official informed the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he noted.
Crying family members gathered outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their lost relatives.
Present at the scene is a man looking frantically for his daughter, Farzana Akhter.
"When I was informed of the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my daughter back," he expressed to reporters.
The devastating event has once again emphasized the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which provides jobs for countless of workers and is a major provider of economic income for the South Asian economy.
