Devastating Garment Factory Inferno in Bangladesh Takes a Minimum of 16 Victims
At least 16 persons have died after a huge fire erupted at a clothing factory in Bangladesh, with authorities stating that the death toll could rise.
Sixteen bodies have been found but were incinerated unrecognizable, the fire department reported.
Heartbroken relatives gathered outside the multi-story factory in Dhaka's Mirpur area on that day in looking for their loved ones still missing.
The blaze, which erupted at the factory around noon, was brought under control after several hours. But an neighboring chemical warehouse continued to burn, authorities reported.
Up until 21:00 local time (15:00 GMT) on Tuesday, the fire at the chemical warehouse had not been entirely put out, journalistic accounts said.
Emergency responders have not established which of the two buildings ignited initially.
According to witnesses, the chemical warehouse contained chemical bleaching agents, synthetic polymers and hydrogen peroxide, all of which can accelerate fires. Polymer products also produces poisonous gases when combusted.
Police and military officers are still searching for the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head Mohammad Tajul Islam Chowdhury informed reporters.
An inquiry on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also currently underway, he added.
Tearful family members gathered outside the charred buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their unaccounted for relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man seeking urgently for his daughter, his family member.
"When I was informed of the fire, I hurried to the scene. But I still cannot locate her... I just want my child back," he expressed to news media.
The devastating event has yet again underscored the security issues affecting Bangladesh's clothing sector, which engages numerous of workers and is a significant provider of foreign revenue for the nation.
