Deadly Clothing Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes a Minimum of 16 Victims
A minimum of 16 individuals have lost their lives after a enormous fire erupted at a apparel factory in Bangladesh, with officials warning that the death toll could climb.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were burned impossible to identify, the firefighters stated.
Heartbroken relatives converged outside the multi-story factory in the Mirpur district of Dhaka on Tuesday in seeking their loved ones still not found.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around noon, was brought under control after multiple hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities confirmed.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) yesterday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been fully extinguished, news sources said.
Fire department authorities have not determined which of the two buildings ignited initially.
Based on bystanders, the chemical warehouse contained bleaching powder, plastic and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Plastic also emits hazardous smoke when burned.
Police and military officers are still searching for the operators of the factory and the warehouse, fire service director the department director informed the media.
An probe on whether the warehouse was operating legally is also ongoing, he mentioned.
Weeping family members stood outside the fire-damaged buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Present at the scene is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I heard about the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still haven't found her... I just want my child back," he stated to news media.
The tragic incident has another time underscored the security issues facing Bangladesh's apparel manufacturing, which engages millions of workers and is a significant provider of foreign revenue for the nation.