Devastating Garment Factory Fire in Bangladesh Takes no Fewer than 16 Fatalities
No fewer than 16 individuals have lost their lives after a massive fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, with emergency services cautioning that the number of victims could rise.
16 bodies have been found but were incinerated beyond recognition, the firefighters said.
Grief-stricken relatives assembled outside the multi-story factory in Mirpur, Dhaka on Tuesday in search of their dear ones still not found.
The inferno, which broke out at the factory around noon, was brought under control after several hours. But an nearby chemical warehouse remained ablaze, officials reported.
As late as 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 service officials have not ascertained which of the two buildings was the origin point.
Per witnesses, the chemical warehouse housed bleaching powder, plastic and chemical peroxide, all of which can intensify fires. Synthetic materials also produces hazardous smoke when ignited.
Police and military officers are still attempting to find the owners of the factory and the warehouse, emergency services head the department director informed the media.
An investigation on whether the warehouse was running according to regulations is also in progress, he noted.
Tearful family members waited outside the burned buildings, many of them clutching photographs of their missing relatives.
Included in the crowd is a man searching desperately for his daughter, his family member.
"When I learned of the fire, I came running. But I still haven't found her... I just want my loved one back," he stated to journalists.
The devastating event has yet again highlighted the security issues plaguing Bangladesh's garment industry, which employs millions of workers and is a crucial source of export earnings for the nation.
